Cleavage is perfect, parallel to the clinopinacoid, and this suggested to René Just Haüy the name euclase, from the Greek εὖ, easily, and κλάσις, fracture.

The ready cleavage renders the crystals fragile with a tendency to chip, and thus detracts from its use for personal ornament.

When cut, it resembles certain kinds of beryl and topaz, from which it may be distinguished by its specific gravity (3.1).

[5] It was first reported in 1792 from the Orenburg district in the southern Urals, Russia, where it is found with topaz and chrysoberyl in the gold-bearing gravels of the Sanarka (nowadays probably, Sakmara River, Mednogorsk district, Orenburgskaya Oblast').

Its type locality is Ouro Prêto, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil,[3] where it occurs with topaz.