Their typical crystal habit is pseudohexagonal prisms that taper to a point or are bluntly terminated by a flat pinacoid face. The tendancy to thin and then widen repeatedly within the same crystal often yields a crystal shape that reminds one of an accordian. Weloganite is another carbonate mineral with a very similar crystal habit. Color is yellow, brown, yellow-orange, amber, pale green and white. Luster is vitreous, greasy to dull.
Crystals are translucent to opaque.
Crystal Habits include small pseudohexagonal prismatic crystals that can taper in and out giving an accordion like look. Tabular or platy crystals are also seen as well as in rosettes, spheres and subhedral grains. Fracture is subconchoidal to splintery. Hardness is 4 to 4.5. Streak is white to yellowish white.