Larimar (Natural Blue Pectolite)

Item Description

This is a lovely little gem of Larimar from the Dominican Republic. I want to point out that Larimar is not a species, it is in fact a varietal name given to the blue (likely copper-bearing), massive Pectolite found at the Filipinas Larimar Mine. Additionally, according to the entry on mindat.org, the locality is, "currently closed for unknown reasons", as of January 9, 2023, so nothing new is currently being mined. This stone is an attractive Larimar gem with an "Oval Cabochon" cut and a beautiful light blue color. These stones are only found in one place in the world, and they are becoming increasingly popular among collectors, jewelers and dealers. For reference, the anecdotal history of the actual name "Larimar" comes from a combination of "Larissa", which was the name of the daughter of Dominican geologist, Miguel Mendez who originally named the material, and "Mar", which is the Spanish word for sea, as it resembles the crystal blue Caribbean Sea.