| Property | Specification |
| Chemical Formula | (Complex borosilicate) – general formula: XY₃Z₆(T₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃V₃W |
| Crystal System | Trigonal |
| Color | Wide range: black, brown, red, pink, green, blue, yellow, colorless |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 7 – 7.5 |
| Specific Gravity | 3.02 – 3.26 |
| Refractive Index | 1.614 – 1.666 |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Transparency | Transparent to opaque |
| Cleavage | Indistinct to none |
| Fracture | Uneven to conchoidal |
| Streak | White |
| Pleochroism | Strong in colored varieties (e.g., green to brownish green) |
| Fluorescence | Usually none, varies with composition |
| Crystal Habit | Long, striated prismatic crystals |