Erionite forms brittle, wool-like fibrous masses in the hollows of rock formations and has an internal molecular structure similar to chabazite.

[3][4] Erionite was first described by A.S. Eakle in 1898, as white woolly fibrous masses in cavities in rhyolite lava near Durkee, Oregon.

It was originally thought to be another relatively rare zeolite named offretite, which is very similar to erionite in appearance and chemical composition.

[6] Zeolites, in general, have good thermal stability, rehydration kinetics, and water vapor adsorption capacity.

[7] The prevalence of malignant pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma due to erionite exposure in the Cappadocia region of Central Anatolia is very high.

[11] Deposits of fibrous erionite are located in Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah, as well in urban Auckland in New Zealand.

[6] Erionite is held responsible for the high incidence of asbestosis and various forms of lung cancer within the Turkish village of Tuzkoy near Nevsehir in the popular tourist region of Cappadoccia.