It is far more abundant than the carbonate end-member. Color is usually colorless, occasionally pale yellow, pale green, pink, light to medium red, white and gray. Luster is vitreous to dull. Diaphaneity is transparent to translucent. Crystal Habits include simple hexagonal prisms to 6mm terminated by basal pinacoids.
Fracture is conchoidal to uneven.
Hardness is 5. Streak is white.