The structure actually contains open channels that allow water and large ions to travel into and out of the crystal structure. The size of these channels controls the size of the molecules or ions and therefore a zeolite like chabazite can act as a chemical sieve, allowing some ions to pass through while blocking others. Color is clear, white, pink, yellowish, reddish and brown. Luster is vitreous. Crystals are transparent to translucent.
Aggregates form crusts and granular masses.
Twinning is common with the penetration twin rotated around the c-axis. Cleavage is poor in three directions parallel to the faces of the rhombohedron. Fracture is uneven. Hardness is 4 - 5. Streak is white.