Blue Pectolite

The Amazing Larimar

Nuggets look exceptionally magnificent with the Larimar a brilliant blue stone. Larimar is a variety of the pectolite found only in a small inaccessible region in the Dominican Republic. When properly shaped, cut, and polished, Larimar produces a brilliant turquoise glow, which adds to it splendor.

Larimar is an extremely rare gemstone that is found in only in an inaccessible, mountainous, volcanic region of the Dominican Republic that overlooks the Caribbean Sea. Dominicans have long been aware of this wonderful stone, which they have been using in jewelry since centuries, but it is only after 1974 when Larimar got its due respect and recognition.

Larimar is currently one of the newest and the most demanded gemstones in demand. Its popularity is attributed to the implausible Caribbean Blue color and its rarity. This is the reason why only handful of jewelers are found offering Larimar jewelry.

Hemimorphite is a look-alike of the Larimar but is available at a fraction of Larimar’s cost. There are plenty of instances of Hemimorphite being offered to customers in the name of Larimar. Hence, the authenticity of any online shop offering Larimar should be tested before going for a purchase.

WholesaleLarimar is a leading online store offering Larimar at its best. Be it Larimar nuggets, Larimar sterling silver jewelry, Larimar golden jewelry, or simple Larimar stone, you wouldn’t find a more elaborate collection elsewhere.

Ryan Smith is an associated editor with the website wholesalelarimar.com - Larimar Wholesale Supplier, and many other informative as well as shopping or business websites.

Origins of Larimar

Larimar is a blue pectolite, and a result of vulcanic activity, which ocurred 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, andesites, basalts and other minerals formed.

The pectolite, formerly denominated "ratholite", is an acid silicate hydrate of calcium and sodium. Of ample diffusion in the world, we can find deposits of this mineral, known as outcrop, at very distant places of the planet: The United States (Michigan, Arkansas, New Jersey, California), Canada, England (Scotland), India, Austria (Tyrolia), among others. All have in fact been results and consequences of this volcanic Earth activity, many million years ago

The only locality where Larimar or blue pectolite appears on the terrestrial crust, is the province of Barahona, in the south-western region of the Dominican Republic.

Angelina Jolie and Wears Larimar

Angelina Jolie and Wears Larimar
People Magazine - January 19, 2006
Ever wonder when Brad Pitt will get around to giving Angelina Jolie a ring? Well, quit wondering. Visiting Angel Gemas, a shop in the Dominican Republic capital of Santo Domingo on Jan. 10, the couple perused cigars (him) and jewelry (her) with a playful Maddox, 4, and baby Zahara, 12 months, in tow.

When a pregnant Jolie – "she looked radiant," says clerk Victoria Salcé – spied a gold ring made with larimar, a local blue volcanic stone, "[Pitt] said, 'It's very pretty – do you want it?' " recalls Salcé. Jolie said yes, and Pitt plunked down $48 for the bauble, which she quickly slipped on.

Spiritual Properties of Larimer

LARIMAR
Metaphysical Properties- Opens creativity in the throat area, helps soul mates to find one another while healing negative karma between soul mates and lovers.  Allows for open communication between soul mates.   This is an exciting healing stone which I feel should be worked with on a continual basis.  I find Larimar to not only aid communication in relationships, but it also gives me a strong sense of peace.   It is very calming, which is no surprise, since Larimar is from the Caribbean. Brings tranquility of water/sea and air to heart and mind. Soothes and uplifts hurt, fear, depression, pain of life, changes with love. Self-expression, patience, acceptingness, simplicity, creativity, artwork. With red spots: helps gentle people be assertive. Cools, draws out inflammation, fevers, sunburn heat. Especially helps the creativity and throat CTR. (shoulder, thyroid, nose). Pleasantly uplifts the heart and eases stress.

Numerology- Larimar vibrates to the master number 55. Has to do with accessing Higher Mind (55) and channeling it through your individuality (1). 55 is a direct line to the mind of God or as some call it, the akashic records. It is calling upon you to responsibly harness and direct the knowledge that is attainable now. There are also changes taking place and many choices ahead. Responsible choices must be made and the route to these is through the Higher Mind. Melody describes it as: The extension of occurrences to facilitate knowledge with ease is advanced such that approach to each event/condition/experience is with absolute precision and beneficial construction.  The concept of approach via strategic techniques is reflected in 55.

Gemological Properties- Pectolite (trade name Larimar) is a mineral species.  It belongs to the triclinic crystal system and offers a chemical composition of NaCa20si3O8(OH).  The refractive index is 1.599-1.628 with a specific gravity of 2.81.  It is a fairly soft stone being a 4.5-5.  It is mainly found in the Dominican Republic, however reports have been made from Canada and the US.

Larimar - The Precious Gemstone

Gemstones - The rarest minerals, crystalline rocks or petrified materials of nature. These are highly valuable for their beauty, rarity, durability, hardness and amazing colors. Mostly gemstones is used in jewelry produced with gold and sterling silver jewelry and really has become the soul of jewelry. Even in prehistoric times, people were attracted to pretty pebbles, and when combined with translucency or even transparency with color, they were highly prized. Some high quality of these stones known as precious gemstone like diamonds, sapphires, emeralds & rubies, LARIMAR is one of them.

COLOR is one of the most important and individual characteristic to gemstones. The color should be rich - not as light as to give the stone an anemic appearance, nor as deep as to make it look dark or even black, particularly in artificial light. Too dark color reduces transparency and stone's lively look, which can be achieved by skillful cutting and faceting by making it a bit sparkle. The blending of the various colors or tints of the same color and the various designs and patterns produced as they are by nature, give such stone an individual appeal that makes each one unique.

Another character that makes a difference in the available gemstone is quality, a high luster. Larimar, amber and some other garnets have a resinous luster, while turquoise is sometimes described as "waxy". Luster does not give a stone brilliance. In certain gemstones brilliance is produced by the skillful cutting of the stone's facets in such a way that they reflect light like mirrors, making the whole stone bright and shining when viewed from the top.

These Gemstone characteristics distinguish them and their unique appearance from the entire available sets of other precious and rare minerals. There is, however, a most important attribute which gemstones should posses: permanence.

Some of the popular gemstones are:

a. Agate
b. Amber
c. Ametrine
d. Aquamarine
e. Black Onyx/Black Agate
f. Carnelian
g. Chrysoprase
h. Coral
i. Fluorite
j. Jasper
k. Labradorite Stone
l. Larimar Gemstone
m. Miscellaneous
n. Moonstone Bead
o. Obsidian
p. Orange Sunstone
q. Peridot Semi Precious Stone Bead
r. Pink Tourmaline, Watermelon Tourmaline or Green Tourmaline Bead
s. Red and Green Garnet Gem Stone Beads
t. Rose Quartz
u. Sodalite

Ryan Smith, Independent writer, presently associated with wholesalelarimar.com

Blue Pectolite Jewelry - Larimar Jewelry

Larimar jewelry is available in the Dominican Republic, and elsewhere in the Caribbean. Most jewelry produced is set in silver, but high grade stones are often set in gold.

Quality grading is according to coloration: white is low quality, volcanic blue high quality. High quality jewelry utilizes stones between sky-blue and volcanic blue, often in combinations of both. Greenish colorations are also known but not well regarded, unless the green is intense. Red colored inclusions in Larimar indicate traces of iron. It should be noted that pectolites are photosensitive, which causes the larimar to lose its blue coloration over the years.

Blue Pectolite - Larimar - Semi-Precious Stone Of The Caribbean

Larimar AKA Blue Pectolite

Found only in one remote area of the Dominican Republic, the same volcanic forces which created the island itself forged this exquisite gem. When scorching gases pushed molten material into the volcano's chimneys, its minerals crystallized, creating the stone's unique properties. Over the eons, erosion broke off bits of stone, washing them into the Bahoruco River where they tumbled against rocks and other debris. By the time the stones reached the river's end at the beach, this polishing action revealed the marbled sea-blue, green, and white hues Larimar is now prized for.

We can only speculate when people first saw Larimar, but more than a century ago, the area's inhabitants likely came across the blue stones washed up on the beach. They may have later traced its origins to the mountains. By 1916, at least one person knew where to find it - a priest in Barahona parish, who applied for the right to set up a mining operation. His application was never approved, however, and Larimar remained shrouded in mystery for years to come.

In fact, it continued to go unnoticed by the world at large until 1974, when geologist Miguel Méndez and Peace Corps volunteer Norman Rilling found some of the stones on the beach. By following the river up the mountain, they eventually arrived at Los Chupaderos, where most Larimar is mined today. Miguel Méndez named the stone by combining his daughter's name, “Larissa,” with “mar,” the Spanish word for sea.

Unique to the lush Bahoruco mountain range, Larimar's scientific classification is blue pectolite. Although other types of pectolite exist in locations around the world, none are quite like Larimar. Copper gives it its characteristic blues and greens, with blue stones considered more valuable. In addition, some stones contain red, brown, or gray shades. Due to its coloring, it's sometimes mistaken for turquoise or blue jade.

According to folklore, Larimar helps relieve stress, radiates healing energy, aids communication, and enlightens the mind. Because of claims that the Dominican Republic was the ancient site of Atlantis, symbolized by dolphins, some people call Larimar “the Atlantis Stone” or “the Dolphin Stone.”

With all the excitement about Larimar, there's even a Larimar Museum in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic's capital city. Located in a well-restored historic building, the museum contains exhibits about the gem and a store with hand-made Larimar jewelry.

Only buy jewelry from reputable stores because blue glass has occasionally been passed off as Larimar. Stores in the Dominican Republic carry the widest selection, of course, but Larimar can also be found in a small number of shops in other countries. In addition to jewelry, Larimar is also available in sculptures and polished slabs.

Travelers can take home a true piece of the islands with Larimar and Caymanite items. And those lucky enough to find Larimar elsewhere can enjoy its soothing, ocean hues without a trip to the Caribbean.

About the Author - Karen Joslin writes for Anguilla-Guide.info

History & Geology of Blue Pectolite (Larimar)

History
On 22 November 1916 Father Miguel Domingo Fuertes Loren of the Barahona Parish requested permission at the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Mining to explore and exploit the mine of a certain blue rock he had discovered. Since nobody knew what the priest was talking about the request fell through and the blue stone discovery was delayed.

It was not until 1974 when at the foot of the Bahoruco Range, the coastal province of Barahona, a flash of blue in the beach sand caught the attention of Miguel Méndez and Peace Corps volunteer Norman Rilling and they scooped down to rediscover larimar. Natives, who believed the stone came from the sea, called the gem Blue Stone. Miguel promptly took his young daughter's name Larissa and the Spanish word for the sea (mar) and formed Larimar, by the colors of the water of the Caribbean Sea, where it was found. As it turns out, the few stones they found were alluvial sediment, washed into the sea by the Bahoruco River. An upstream search revealed the in situ outcrops in the range and before long the Los Chupaderos mine tapped the only known larimar outcropping in the world.

Geology
Larimar is a variety of pectolite, or a rock composed largely of pectolite, an acid silicate hydrate of calcium and sodium. Although pectolite is found in many locations, none have the unique volcanic blue coloration of larimar. This blue color, distinct from that of other pectolites, is the result of cobalt substitution for calcium. Larimar is Blue Pectolite.

Miocene volcanic rocks, andesites and basalts, erupted within the limestones of the south coast of the island. These rocks contained cavities or vugs which were later filled with a variety of minerals including the blue pectolite. These pectolite cavity fillings are a secondary occurrence within the volcanic flows, dikes and plugs. When these rocks erode the pectolite fillings are carried downslope to end up in the alluvium and the beach gravels. The Bahoruco River carried the pectolite bearing sediments to the sea. The tumbling action along the streambed provided the natural polishing to the blue larimar which makes them stand out in contrast to the dark gravels of the streambed.