It crystallizes in the monoclinic system and typically occurs as veinlets and fracture coatings.

It is commonly colorless, white to pale amethyst in color.

[3][4] Under short wave ultraviolet light it fluoresces a rich orange color.

[6] Clinohedrite was found primarily at the Franklin zinc mines in New Jersey, the type locality, but has also been reported from the Christmas mine, Gila County, Arizona,[3] and the Western Quinling gold belt, Gansu Province, China.

[4] It was first described in 1898 and was named for its crystal morphology from the Greek klino for incline, and hedra for face.