Babingtonite is a common constituent of calcareous volcanic detritus in the interstices of pillow lavas from an outcrop of the Takitimu Group, western Southland, New Zealand, Associated minerals include Fe-rich prehnite (Fe/(Fe+Al) = 0.12–0.33), Fe-rich epidote (Ps24–53), grandite garnet (av. Andradite70 Grossular30), quartz, calcite, chlorite, and pumpellyite. Babingtonite shows little departure from its ideal composition other than minor Mg, Mn, and Al and a trace of Na.

Textural evidence and microprobe data suggest that the babingtonite, Fe-rich epidote, calcite, and quartz formed from hydrothermal solutions by direct precipitation in open cavities and by replacement of higher temperature silicate phases (in particular plagioclase and basaltic glass) in a shallow marine volcanic environment. During subsequent burial and low-grade metamorphism babingtonite was partially replaced by prehnite, less Fe-rich epidote, grandite, and chlorite.

Overgrowths of whiskers of hedenbergite (Ca(Fe2+,Mg)Si2O6) on the hydrous pyroxenoid babingtonite (Ca2Fe2+Fe3+[Si5O14(OH)]) have been observed at Arvigo in Switzerland and Kreimbach/Kaulbach in Germany, and we have studied them with transmission electron microscopy in order to understand their structural relationships and formation. The boundaries between babingtonite and hedenbergite are sharply defined, and the two minerals are in direct contact with no additional phases present. The relationships of babingtonite (Bab) and hedenbergite (Hd) were determined as Bab[100]//Hd[112] in the Arvigo specimen and Bab[$\bar 1$00]//Hd[1$\bar 1$2] in the Kreimbach/Kaulbach specimen. Diffraction derived from Bab(031) and Hd(02$\bar 1$) in the Arvigo samples and Bab(031) and Hd(021) in the Kreimbach/Kaulbach samples were observed in identical positions. The reciprocity between the babingtonite and hedenbergite structures is governed by the direction of the SiO4-tetrahedral chains, and the related configuration of octahedra. Thus, hedenbergite is apparently an epitaxial phase grown on a base of {010} plates of babingtonite. The defined orientation relationship is also consistent with that shown in topotaxial intergrowths of other clinopyroxenes and pyroxenoids. The topotaxial intergrowths may result from diffusion-controlled solid-state reactions, whereas rapid whisker growth is characteristic of supersaturated solutions or a vapour medium. The epitaxial growth of hedenbergite whiskers on babingtonite with an abrupt but coherent change of structure at the interface represents an ideal example where the similar chemical compositions of host and guest contribute strongly to the close structural relationship.