[3] It was first described in 1851 for an occurrence at The Storr on the Isle of Skye, Scotland and is named from the ancient Greek word for circle, guros (γῦρος), based on the round form in which it is commonly found.

[5] Gyrolite is found in Scotland, Ireland; Italy, Faroe Islands, Greenland, India, Japan, USA, Canada and various other localities.

Gyrolite may form at higher temperature in oilwell cement muds containing ground granulated blast furnace slags (GGBFS) activated by alkali.

Gyrolite can be synthesized in the laboratory, or industrially, by hydrothermal reaction in the temperature range 150 – 250 °C by reacting CaO and amorphous SiO2, or quartz, in saturated steam in the presence of CaSO4 salts or not.

[8] Gyrolite is also one of the rare phases detected in situ along with pectolite by synchrotron X-rays diffraction in hydrothermal synthesis of cement.