Howlite is almost always found in masses or boitroydal nodules. Only rarely is it found as crystals, and they are small. The stone was discovered in 1868 by J.D. Dana and named for Canadian chemist H.
Origin: the USA, Canada, S. Africa, China
Mineral Species: Howlite
Color: White, Bright sky-blue
Chemical Formula: Ca2B5SiO9(OH)5, Calcium borosilicate hydroxide
Mineral Group: Borates
Hardness: 3.5
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Origin of Name & Mythology: After Henry How (1828 - 1879) Canadian chemist, geologist, and mineralogist, of Nova Scotia, who first described the species.
Howlite has the appearance of white marble or porcelain with a sub-vitreous lustre. It is opaque and white or grey with grey, black or dark brown veins running through it. Gemstone quality howlite can be interspersed by the darker matrix (which appears as the veins), or it can be matrix-free and pure white. Howlite is best known for imitating other gemstones.