It was mined for a while in Germany for strontium, an element used as a coloring agent of fireworks and other applications. Color is white, colorless, gray, yellowish or greenish. Luster is vitreous to greasy. Transparency crystals are transparent to translucent. Crystal Habits include compact, granular, concretionary and massive forms.
Crystals are uncommon and are usually pointed and nearly acicular in radiating clusters or tufts.
Also forms a psuedo-hexagonal trilling twin is similar to, but is far rarer than aragonite's famous twin. Cleavage is notable in one direction and poor in another. Fracture is subconchoidal to uneven. Streak is white. Associated Minerals include fluorite , celestite , galena , calcite and aragonite .