Howlite

History and Discovery

• Howlite was discovered in 1868 by Henry How, a Canadian chemist, geologist, and mineralogist.
• It was initially named silico-boro-calcite by How and later renamed howlite by James Dwight Dana.
• The discovery of howlite occurred near Windsor, Nova Scotia.
• Miners in a gypsum quarry alerted How to the unknown mineral.
• Howlite was considered a nuisance by the miners.

Geology

• Howlite commonly occurs as irregular nodules, resembling cauliflower.
• Crystals of howlite are rare and have only been found in a few locations worldwide.
• Tick Canyon in the Sierra Pelona Mountains of California was the first locality where crystals were reported.
• Another locality where crystals were found is Iona, Nova Scotia.
• Howlite nodules are white with fine grey or black veins in a web-like pattern.

Jewelry

• Howlite is frequently used to make decorative objects and jewelry components.
• Due to its porous texture, howlite can be easily dyed to imitate other minerals, particularly turquoise.
• It is also sold in its natural state and sometimes referred to as white turquoise or white buffalo turquoise.
• Howlite is popular for producing jewelry similar to turquoise because it is more durable than the white forms of turquoise.
• Varieties of white turquoise require stabilization for use in jewelry.

Gallery

• Howlite specimens collected from southern California.
• Polished mass of howlite showing veining.
• Crystals of howlite from Iona, Nova Scotia.
• Crystals of howlite from Tick Canyon, California.
• Howlite artificially colored in blue, marketed as turquenite.

Related Information

• List of minerals
• List of minerals named after people
• Borate minerals
• Howlite mineral information and data
• Howlite at Mineral Galleries

Howlite Data Sources