Color is pale yellow, pale orange, beige, white and colorless with some color zoning. Luster is vitreous to dull or silky. Crystal System is hexagonal. Crystal Habits include small prismatic six and twelve sided crystals with pyramidal or pinacoidal terminations. Also as compact spherical aggregates and fibrous masses.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 3.5 to 4. Streak is white. Index of refraction is 1.615 - 1.627.