Transparency crystals are transparent to translucent. Crystal Habits include prismatic crystals with an overall square cross-section. There is usually two sets of four sided prisms with one set being dominant. The termination is usually a four sided pyramid that can be either steeply or gently sloped. A pinacoid can truncate the pyramid or form the entire termination.
Massive forms are common and difficult to distinguish from massive garnet.
Cleavage poor, in one direction lengthwise. Fracture is conchoidal to uneven. Hardness is 6.5 Specific Gravity is 3.3 - 3.5 Streak is white. Associated Minerals are garnets , calcite , wollastonite , diopside and serpentine . Best Field Indicators crystal habit, color, cleavage and localities.