Lepidolite

Refreshing and almost sentimental it encourages universal light, hope and acceptance. Eases one through changes helping to re-structure and re-order old patterns of behavior. Excellent stone for business pursuits combining effective communication with diplomacy. Can teach self-love and trust with a child-like acceptance and innocence. Contains traces of lithium and acts as a natural mood stabilizer and muscle relaxer 4th chakra. Connects heart and crown to bring spiritual understanding to why we suffer.  Allows us to understand our place in life and the Universal plan.  Brings acceptance, calm and trust in life.  For many, this stone heals fear at its source in this or past lifetimes. Also promotes joy when combined with rubellite. A grid of quartz and lepidolite is very effective. When combined with Mica in purple "books" connects you to the wisdom of the violet ray and feminine lunar energies which helps you become aware that all things are in a cycle of constant change.

A dull gemstone is not eye catching. Striking, vivid colors quickly catch the eye and raise the value of a gemstone. Australian Opals, with great fire, are costly, primarily because of their appealing colors. Even if the color of a mineral is vivid, it is still more valuable than a dull gemstone.

Minerals that have transparency provide a certain amount of clarity within the gemstone. The greater the clarity, the greater its value. Where a mineral has transparency there is the ability of seeing the crystalline structure, color, inclusions, phantoms etc that the crystal possesses. The greater the transparency, the more you can see, the more appealing it becomes, the greater its value.

Due to the stable chemical structure of minerals, luster is rarely a factor in mineral value, since the same type of minerals exhibit similar levels of luster. There are a few cases where a gemstone naturally exhibits a more impressive luster than other minerals of its kind. These exceptions give the gemstone a greater value.

Well-formed or unique crystals will raise the value of the gemstone, especially of large crystals. Nearly all natural crystals are deformed, some more than others. The larger a crystal, the more likely it is to be deformed.

Small, well formed, beautiful, gemstones are easier to find. Larger gemstones with similar properties are more expensive, because of their size. Fairly large gemstones, even of common minerals, will usually be of a higher value.

Gemstones of a mineral that are intrinsically different from normal gemstones of the mineral fall under this category. Properties such as abnormal color, pseudomorphs, twinning, and odd crystals give a gemstone extra value.

Crystals in a matrix are definitely more valuable than similar "freestanding" crystals. A matrix shows the original uniqueness of the mineral. Crystals in a matrix should always be selected over freestanding crystals.

Some minerals are not be considered attractive, but demand a high price because of their content, such as gold or silver.

Obviously, rare minerals are more costly than more common ones. Extremely rare minerals have a great value, even if they look ugly. The opposite is also true. Fairly common minerals, even if nicely colored and well formed have little value because of their commonness (unless they are exceptional).

Then there is always a spot for the exceptional gemstones. Gemstones that are magnificent, are always more valuable.