I first saw these at Munich, just a few pieces, and now had the chance to select some material direct from the mines via emailed pictures. After trimming and cleaning, we got out 3 very choice specimens of this new find of unusual "ropey" lepidolite, with a velvety texture and deep lavender color. This specimen hosts is a nearly solid mass of purple lepidolite, with minor albite and tourmaline in association. 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!