X-ray study of tuhualite from Mayor Island, New Zealand, has shown it to be orthorhombic, space-group either Cmca=D2h18 or C2ca=D2v17. Unit-cell dimensions are a = 14·31 Å, b = 17·28 Å., c = 10·11 Å., and a : b : c = 0·828 : 1 : 0·585. Goniometric measurements give a : b : c = 0·8243 : 1 : 0·5658. a{100} dominant with forms s{011}, p{021}, c{001}, b{010}, n{101}, m{110}, q{111}. Crystals with b{010} dominant are rare. Three good cleavages, a (100), b (010), c (001). α = 1·608, β = 1·612, γ = 1·621; γ-α = 0·013. 2V=61ρ°−70v°, positive; β = b, γ = c, α = colourless to pale lavender, β = violet, lavender, γ = intense purplish-blue; γ > β > α. Sp. gr. 2·89 (measured), 2·86 (calculated).

An analysis of carefully purified material leads to the possible formula:

H₉(Na,K,Mn)₁₂Fe″₆(Al,Fe‴,Mg,Ti)₉[Si₈O₈]₁₅.

Details of alteration phenomena and associated minerals are given. Occurrence is held to result by crystallization from magma quite impoverished in lime due to early fractionation of aegirine-hedenbergite, and perhaps aegirine-augite, in the intratelluric stage.