Howlite was discovered near Windsor, Nova Scotia in 1868 by Henry How (1828–1879), a Canadian chemist, geologist, and mineralogist. How was alerted to the unknown mineral by miners in a gypsum quarry, who found it to be a nuisance. He called the new mineral silico-boro-calcite; it was given the name howlite by James Dwight Dana shortly thereafter.
The most common form of howlite is irregular nodules, sometimes resembling cauliflower. The nodules are white with fine grey or black veins in an erratic, often web-like pattern, opaque with a sub-vitreous luster.
Because of its porous texture, howlite can be easily dyed to imitate other minerals, especially turquoise because of the superficial similarity of the veining patterns. Howlite is also sold in its natural state, sometimes under the misleading trade names of white turquoise or white buffalo turquoise or white buffalo stone.
Howlite is often believed to be an excellent stone for meditation, and has been used by practitioners to focus the mind. The grey spidery veins are thought to be like intrusive thoughts, to be acknowledged and then passed by. For this mental calming effect, some believers advocate placing howlite under an insomniac's pillow, to promote serenity of mind and to empty it of distracting thought.
