Color is purple, brown to yellow, pale pink and even black. Luster is vitreous to dull or waxy. Crystals are translucent to opaque. Crystal Habits include rare striated prismatic crystals, but specimens are usually massive. Cleavage is poor in one direction.
Fracture is subconchoidal.
Streak is brown. Associated Minerals include pectolite , poudretteite and polylithionite . Notable Occurrences include the type locality of Iwagi Island, Shikoku, Japan as well as Mont Saint-Hilaire , Quebec, Canada and most importantly, South Africa. Best Field Indicators are color, hardness, luster, streak and locality. 1995,1996,1999 by Amethyst Galleries, Inc.