Color is usually colourless or white. Luster is vitreous to pearly on blade surfaces. Diaphaneity is transparent to opaque.
Fracture is uneven.
Streak is white. Associated Minerals include apophyllite series, clinoamphibole group, magadiite, molybdenite, natrolite, pectolite, phlogopite, quartz and thaumasite. Named in 1901 for its discovery locality, at Baveno, Lago Maggiore, Piemonte, Italy.