Larimar is a rare gemstone that forms in cavities within basaltic lava and has only been found in the Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea. There is a legend that Larimar was first discovered in 1916 and was forgotten, and in 1974, Norman Rilling, a visiting member of the US Peace Corps, found the locality with Miguel Mendez, a Dominican native. Together they named the stone “Larimar,” which is a
combination of “Larrisa,” Mendez’s daughter, and “mar,” which means ‘sea’ in Spanish. Larimar is a form of blue Pectolite with a hardness of 4.5 to 5. It occurs in aggregates of needle-like crystals, grown together in a solid mass, characterized by dramatic patterns of blue, blue-green and white. Some Larimar contains vivid red-brown Hematite
inclusions. It is the only gemstone to be found in the Caribbean. The color of Larimar is caused by copper inclusions. Its color is rarely solid with sky to deep blue interconnecting with white lines and rough circles. Deeper blue colors and less white are more desirable. Needle-like occurrences in Larimar give it chatoyancy. Although Larimar has a very attractive color, it is a soft gemstone and can be easily scratched. Its color may also fade upon prolonged exposure due to strong sunlight. Metaphysics connect this stone to the lost Continent of Atlantis based on Edgar Cayce’s prediction of a blue stone in the Caribbean. Larimar is calming and cooling. It soothes the emotional body, enhances communication, feminine power and connection with Goddess energies.
