Lepidolite With Tourmaline on Albite

Item Description

I first saw these at Munich of 2009, just a few pieces, and then later had the chance to select some material direct from the mines via emailed pictures. After trimming and cleaning, we got out 3 very choice cabinet specimens of this new find of unusual "ropey" lepidolite, with a velvety texture and deep lavender color. This particular piece has a 10 cm arc of lepidolite crystals perched atop the white albite matrix, with minor tourmalines sticking out The larger one is broken off, but seems also partially rehealed). It is starkly beautiful, and displays very nicely as shown. Very pretty and unusual for the region - lepidolite specimens as a primary mineral are frankly unheard of from here and I wouldn't have thought they would make my list of desirable Afghani minerals in collectible quality, til now! For some reason difficult to photo, the video shows it off nicely!