This lavender colored Lepidolite is an uncommon purple mica.

It was discovered in 1861 in the Czech Republic.

This semiprecious gemstone is a by-product of the mining of lithium and owes its purple color to lithium's proximity.

Lepidolite designer cabochons are rare. This stone cabochon material is pale purple or lavender to pale pink or white and it has a lovely chatoyancy or shimmer.

They are sometimes called Lavender Lepidolite cabochons.

Lepidolite has a pearly luster and it is also sometimes called Purple Jade.

Lepidolite also comes from the Stewart Mine in Pala, California. In 1969 Pala Properties International opened the mine in search of Tourmaline. Lepidolite is often found as a matrix material to Tourmaline and Quartz.

The name Lepidolite is from the Greek word lepidos, meaning scale, because Lepidolite normally appears scaly.