The Mystery of Larimar

What is Larimar?

 

Another common question I am asked at the shows is in regards to the gorgeous and mysterious blue stone, Larimar.  Those who have never seen it are fascinated by the gorgeous Robin’s Egg blue color.  Those who are familiar with it remain enamored with it, as each piece is uniquely beautiful.

 

Larimar is a rare blue variety of pectolite found only in the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean.  Its coloration varies from white, light-blue, green-blue to deep blue. The deep blue variant is known as volcanic blue.  Although pectolite is found in many locations, none have the unique volcanic blue coloration of Larimar.

Larimar is found in an old volcano in the southwest mountain area of the Dominican Republic in a town called Barahona, which overlooks the Caribbean Sea.  It is the only known place on earth where pectolite is found in the color blue.

There is a rather fascinating story about the discovery of Larimar.  Larimar was initially discovered early in the 1900’s by a Spanish priest.  It was not mined until 1974, when a flash of blue in the sand caught the attention of  Miguel Mendes and Peace Corps volunteer Norman Riling.  They scooped up a stone the natives called “Blue Stone” and they “rediscovered” this precious gem we now call Larimar.  Miguel took his young daughter’s name Larissa and combined it with the Spanish word for the sea (Mar) and formed the name “Larimar”.  It is said to represent the color of the water of the Caribbean Sea, where it was found. 

As it turns out, the stone is not from the sea at all.  Larimar is created deep inside volcanic mountains. The few stones found by Mendes and Riling were alluvial sediment, washed into the sea by the Bahorucu River.  An upstream search revealed outcrops in the nearby mountainside.  Larimar is a result of volcanic activity, which occurred many million years ago on the island of la “La Hispañola”. Its crystallization took place when the volcanic lava was cooling off as columns in the tubular “chimneys”, in which these pectolites and other minerals formed.

Larimar is mined on one unique mountain located at “Los Chupaderos”, in the section of “Los Checheses”, about 10 kilometers southwest of the city of Barahona, in the south-western region of the Dominican Republic and found nowhere else in the world. Its excavation is done by native Dominicans with the assistance of simple, primitive tools.

It is a single mountainside now perforated with approximately 2,000 vertical shafts, surrounded by rainforest vegetation and deposits of blue-colored mine tailings.

The quantity of Larimar left in the mines is unknown, which makes the supply of Larimar uncertain.

Larimar has a hardness ranging from 4 to 7 on the Moh’s scale.

Metaphysical properties:  Called by some as a “stone for Earth’s healing” Larimar is a powerful healing stone particularly useful for the throat Chakra area.  Speech, communication and the body’s natural healing processes are all enhanced by the wearing of Larimar.  Larimar has excellent energy for communicating with dolphins, and sea creatures of all kinds. Emitting energy of Love, Larimar represents peace and clarity.

 Larimar is also known as the Love Stone, Dolphin Stone and “Atlantis” stone.  It’s strong connection to the Atlantis began when a prophet claimed the Dominican Republic was part of the lost continent of Atlantis.  He also indicated that one would find there a blue stone with extraordinary healing attributes, a description that strongly corresponds to Larimar. It’s various shades of aqua are strongly reminiscent of the waters of the Caribbean.

Etania Gems has a number of beautiful Larimar pieces for sale.  Please check out our website or call for information on these fascinating and one of a kind gemstone pieces.