They are popular and attractive with the snow white fibrous balls of artinite set upon the greasy lustered jade green serpentine base. Color is white or colorless. Luster is silky to fibrous. Transparency crystals are transparent to translucent. Cleavage is perfect in one direction.
Fracture is fibrous.
Streak is white. Associated Minerals include serpentine , hydromagnesite , talc and olivine . Notable Occurrences include San Benito Co., California and Long Island, New York, USA and Campo Franscia, Lombardia, Italy. Best Field Indicators are crystal habits, color, associations, softness and density.