Named after the Filipinas Larimar Mine in the Dominican Republic where it was found, Larimar is a rare blue mineral variety of pectolite. Pectolite is exploited as a gem material, and its colour can vary from white to light blue, while blue can range from medium sky blue to volcanic blue.

The Physical Properties of Larimar

Larimar usually gray in colour is not that rare, and occurring in many parts of the world. However, blue Larimar is found only in the Dominican Republic. Traces of the stone may be found on the shores of the Caribbean, as sediment washed up as alluvial deposits by the Bahoruco River. However, it's challenging to find it anywhere else but in the Dominican Republic.

The gem is a hydrated sodium calcium silicate with manganese, and it owes its blue colour to the calcium replaced by copper impurities. Larimar's composition often is mixed with hematite, calcite, iron, potassium, and other materials. It has a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale, almost the same as turquoise and apatite. Due to its unique colours and patterns, there are no other gemstones that can be mistaken for that kind of rare blue colour.

The History of Larimar

Commercially, Larimar is a relatively new gemstone, while its history base on many stories and legends. The narrative is that it was first discovered in 1916 by Father Miguel Domingo Fuertes Loren, but later, it was forgotten. Then, there was a rediscovery by Norman Rilling (a visiting US Peace Corps volunteer) and Miguel Méndez (a local Dominican) in 1974. They named the stone by combining the first letters of Méndez’s daughter Larissa (Lari) and the Spanish word for sea (mar) “ Larimar.

The Lore of Larimar

An interesting fact about Larimar is that, despite its volcanic origins, it is considered to be a water element stone. People believed that it helps the one that's wearing it to view events from different perspectives. Also, it was thought to heal all the aspects of one's being (physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental.) Also known as the Atlantis Stone because of a Spiritual master from Trinidad and Tobago who claimed that some islands in the Caribbean were once a part of the lost continent of Atlantis. He declared, on one of those islands, you could find a blue stone with healing powers “ the description of the rock that corresponds to Larimar.

The Metaphysical Properties of Larimar

Larimar wears as jewelry typically cut as a cabochon or into beads. It stimulates the throat, heart, and crown chakras, and the third eye promoting inner wisdom. Larimar represents healing, love, peace, and clarity and is said to be helpful to people experiencing anxiety and stress. It will help those wearing it to communicate effectively with others by making the other person understand their point of view. Also said, is that Larimar can help soothe the feelings of excessive fear and anger, stress-related imbalances, panic attacks, and phobias. In case you've built walls around your heart for defence, Larimar can help in breaking them down to allow for emotional release.