Gem Profile- Larimar

by Judy Ellis

I've often wondered if I love volcanoes because of the beautiful rocks that come from the process, or just for the simple reason that they explode - it's kind of a toss-up. I'm leaning more toward the fact that volcanoes, through their incredible power, create spectacular and fascinating rocks. One of the most beautiful and rare among the rocks created from the volcanic process is Larimar.

When I first saw a picture of Larimar it reminded me of the scene in a movie where the star is running from an exploding building, and the camera goes to slow motion as the explosion slowly fill the screen. When you look at a piece of Larimar, you see clouds of steam billowing up from a volcano, the finger-like projections of superheated groundwater mixing with the earth to form sodium calcium silicate hydroxide - an explosion frozen in time.

Judy Copeland wrapped this larimar pendant in gold-filled wire with a focal freshwater pearl surrounded in twisted gold-filled filigree.

The actual chemical term for Larimar is pectolite, which is found worldwide under various names, one of which we've talked about previously: sugilite. Larimar is classified as a blue pectolate with cobalt replacing some of the calcium in the chemical formula NaCa2Si3O8(OH). While blue pectolite has been found in other areas of the world like the U.S. and Canada, only the pectolite from 1 square kilometer in the Dominican Republic can be classified as Larimar. So far it's the only one with the unique chemical composition and color.

Pale blue larimar pendant by Karen McCoun - see the beautiful translucence and patterning?

How Larimar was Discovered

Larimar was officially discovered in 1974 by Peace Corps member Norman Rilling and a Dominican man named Miguel Mendez. The two became intrigued by the beautiful blue stones they found along the seashore and found the source of the stone by following the Bahoruco River to a remote area in the mountains. Mendez was given the honor of naming the stone Larimar after his daughter Larissa and mar which is "sea" in Spanish. Although 1974 was the "official" discovery, native Dominicans have known about the stone for generations.

Silver-wrapped larimar pendant by Karen McCoun

Mining Larimar is very difficult and dangerous. The mines are located in a heavily forested, 1/2-mile-square area of the Dominican mountains. Flooding and rains keep the mines closed up to five months a year, especially during the hurricane season when entire mountainsides can become rivers of mud. Larimar is formed in finger-like veins. Once a shaft is found, the nearby villagers, who have excavated Larimar mines for most of their lives, will dig by hand through the rock hundreds of feet into the dormant volcano to extract the stone. This type of mining, though dangerous, helps to preserve the pristine nature of the rainforest but makes mining and transporting the mined material difficult.

Rebecca House made these Argentium silver Ear Climbers from larimar beads and sterling silver bead accents.

Larimar Properties

Larimar is also known as Atlantis Stone from a prediction by psychic Edgar Cayce (1877-1945) that a blue stone would be found in the Caribbean possessing incredible healing powers. Many believe Larimar is the stone Cayce spoke about. Hispaniola, the island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti, is also believed by some to be a remnant of the fabled sunken city of Atlantis, giving Larimar even more numinous metaphysical power. Larimar brings the wearer peace, balance between head and heart, and protection from negative energy. The stone is also reputed to attract not only success, but one's "soul mate."

Delores Heiden wrapped this larimar cabochon in Argentium silver wire; cabochon by Darryl Heiden

Larimar is a 4.5-5 on the Mohs hardness scale and should be treated with care. Pendants and earrings are the best settings for Larimar. If you decide you just have to have a ring, make a protective setting for the stone. Wire jewelry artist Judy Copeland, whose piece is at the top of this article, forwarded these instructions she received from a purchase of Larimar: "Don't expose the stone to too much sun or light as the color can fade. If this does happen, you can soak the stone in plain water for 24 hours to restore the color." Judy said she followed these instructions, and the color was enhanced and even more beautiful than before.

Linda Pope created these Larimar earrings using 12mm Larimar beads, Opalite drops and crystals, crystal spacers, and Sterling Silver wire.

There is not a grading system for Larimar as the color is really a personal preference, but it comes in colors that range from the most familiar sea blue to a deeper greenish blue and even white. I have seen several stones online that are said to be Larimar but are obvious fakes - they don't have the translucent quality, chromatic graining, and depth that natural Larimar stones have.

Jane Duke wire wrapped this larimar cabochon, forming a wire bracelet adorned with pearls

Road trip: Larimar Mines

Road trip! Okay, so we are going to the Dominican Republic - pack your swimsuit and some sunscreen! Oh, and don't forget hiking boots if you want to visit the mines. We'll start at the Larimar Museum in the country's capitol of Santo Domingo. The first floor is a gift shop with a small factory where workers make jewelry from Larimar and amber (amber is another stone found in the Dominican Republic). The second floor of the building is a self-guided tour of Larimar's history, starting from a beautiful mahogany staircase with Larimar inlays.

Linda Barton created her "Sail Away" pendant, wrapping two Larimar stones in sterling silver wire. Measures 3″x2″.
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Another pale, translucent larimar pendant by Karen McCoun in silver.
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Delores Heiden wrapped this larimar cabochon in 14kt gold-filled wire; Darryl Heiden cabbed the stone for the pendant.

Resources & Recommended Reading

More about Larimar: www.blueturtles.com.au
Larimar's metaphysical properties: lifestreasureskauai.com

Reading
Larronde, S. Romancing the Stone. Americas (serial online). July 2007: 59(4):5. Available from: Literary Reference Center, Ipswich, MA.

Gem Profile- Larimar

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