Larimar, Meaning, Properties, and Facts

What is larimar

Larimar is pectolite, a sodium calcium silicate that is usually white or gray, in a rare sky to sea blue. The blue is usually credited to traces of copper standing in for calcium, though the exact cause is still studied. A priest in Barahona reported a blue stone in 1916, but it was forgotten until 1974, when Miguel Méndez and Peace Corps volunteer Norman Rilling found pieces on a beach and traced them upriver. Méndez named it for his daughter Larissa and mar, Spanish for sea.

Larimar properties

Larimar properties make it a soft stone for jewelry: 4.5 to 5 on the Mohs scale, below glass, with a fibrous structure that polishes to a silky look. Mineral data is on Wikipedia's larimar page, and pectolite has its own entry.

Where larimar is found

Larimar is found only in the Dominican Republic, in mines near Los Chupaderos in the Sierra de Bahoruco of Barahona Province. It formed in cavities and cracks in volcanic rock, where hot fluids deposited pectolite in layers and radiating sprays. Pectolite occurs in many countries, but blue gem-quality material has only come from this one area.

Larimar stone colors and grades

Larimar stone colors range from white and pale blue to green-blue and a deep blue sometimes called volcanic blue, usually in a pattern of white lines and blue patches. Dealers grade it with letters such as AAA, but those grades are a trade habit, not a standard, so judge the color and pattern yourself. The best pieces show strong blue with crisp white patterns that look like light on water.

How to tell if larimar is real

To tell if larimar is real, look at the pattern. Natural larimar has white and blue in irregular webs, patches and fibrous sprays, and the blue sits inside the stone rather than on its surface. Dyed howlite and magnesite show blue collecting in cracks, glass shows bubbles, and plastic or resin feels light and warm. Other blue stones get mixed up with it: amazonite is harder and streaked with white feldspar, gem silica is translucent blue chalcedony, and celestite forms pale blue crystals that are softer still.

Larimar care: water and sun

Larimar care means limiting water and sun: a quick rinse and a soft cloth are fine, but do not soak it or use ultrasonic cleaners, salt or harsh chemicals. Its blue fades with long exposure to strong light and heat, so store it in a drawer or out of the sun, and keep it away from harder stones that scratch it. More in water safe crystals.

Larimar price and value

Larimar price and value follow color first: deep, even blue with a crisp pattern costs the most, and pale or mostly white stone costs the least. Because every piece comes from one small mining area, fine blue material is scarce.

Larimar meaning and benefits

Larimar meaning in crystal lore is calm and the sea, and the benefits people claim for it include peace and easier communication. That is belief, not chemistry. It is also sold as the Atlantis stone, a nickname from New Age stories that tie it to the lost city. The documented history is the one above: a priest's report in 1916, a beach find in 1974 and a father naming a stone after his daughter.

Larimar for sale

Larimar for sale at geoslut arrives in drops, labeled with the mineral and locality. Every piece is one of one and photographed in daylight, and the list hears first.

Larimar FAQ

Can larimar go in water?

Larimar can go in water for a quick rinse, but it should not soak, and salt or chemicals can dull it.

Does larimar fade in the sun?

Larimar does fade in the sun: long exposure to strong light and heat turns the blue paler.

Is larimar only found in the Dominican Republic?

Larimar is only found in the Dominican Republic, in the mountains of Barahona Province.

Why is larimar expensive?

Larimar is expensive at the top end because deep blue material is scarce and all of it comes from one small area.

Sources

• Larimar, Wikipedia
• Pectolite, Wikipedia