Clinohedrite is a product of the metamorphism of zinc minerals, such as hemimorphite or smithsonite , that were caught up in the regional metamorphism that created the wonderful Franklin and Sterling Hill sites. Clinohedrite is now only found at Franklin and Sterling Hill, New Jersey. A discovery of clinohedrite at Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona produced pale violet delicate sprays, but only a few specimens have ever been recovered. Color is white to colorless and violet. Luster is vitreous to dull.
Specimens are translucent to opaque.
Rare individual crystals are prismatic and at the Arizona locality aggregates formed sprays of acicular crystals. Hardness is 5.5. Streak is white. Associated Minerals include willemite , zincite , franklinite , apophyllite , kinoite , stringhamite , esperite , calcite and especially hardystonite . Best Field Indicators are fluorescence, associations, locality and cleavage.