Color is colorless, white with pale shades of pink and green. Crystals are translucent to transparent. Crystal Habits include fibrous, acicular, encrusting, stalactitic, botryoidal and granular masses. Typically formed on the walls of caves and mines as efflorescences and in playa lakes. Cleavage is perfect in one direction and distinct in two other directions.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Streak is white to colorless. A fact that is a detriment to most collection specimens as they may absorb water from the air and deteriorate over time. The taste is bitter like epsom salt. Associated Minerals include aragonite , gypsum , calcite , mirabilite , pyrite and pyrrhotite . Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, low density, associations, solubility in water and taste.