Nealite has a bright and attractive color. It is found only in microcrystals and is very hard to obtain for one's collection. But its beauty, rarity and interesting origin make it a very desirable mineral, especially for micromounters. Color is typically orange, also yellow. Luster is vitreous.
Crystals are transparent to translucent.
Crystal System is trigonal. Crystal Habits include platy prismatic to acicular crystals with a sharp domal termination. Cleavage is absent. Fracture is uneven. Streak is a pale orange yellow.