Color: colorless, white, gray, greenish, yellowish, brownish, or reddish
Streak: white
Hardness: 2
Specific gravity: 2.32
Cleavage: perfect
Fracture: splintery, fibrous
Luster: vitreous or pearly
Crystal form: tabular or diamond-shaped (monoclinic)
Transparency: transparent to opaque
Forms by evaporation around hot springs and in beds of clay.
For an explanation of the properties (in bold face), click here >>