There is one stone that brings the colors of the Caribbean Sea to life more than any other, Larimar. Just looking at Larimar you can see the varied colors of blue, light blue, blueish-white, turquoise, blue-green, and aqua. It is almost as if you were looking directly down into the sea and seeing reflections within the water as sunlight dappled and dripped across the top. Larimar carries with it a cool blue vibe that is absolutely perfect for summertime and is often a stunning stone to behold in jewelry. Found only on the eastern side of Hispaniola Island in the Dominican Republic, and specifically around the city of Barahona, it is no wonder Larimar carries this energy and the colors it does. Although the sea can be a mighty force to behold, it also has softer sides to it like nurturing, feminine, and cooling. It is these qualities of the sea that Larimar seems to hold within it.
In the early part of the 20th century a Father Miguel Domingo Fuertes Loren of the Barahona Parish requested permission to mine the blue stone he found, but was denied access to do so. It wasn't until later in the 1970s that Larimar, a form of blue pectolite, was allowed to be mined. This time Miguel Mendez and other peace corps volunteers found a blue stone that had apparently washed down via the Bahoruco River onto a beach at the foot of the Bahoruco Mountain Range. Exploring farther upstream they found outcrops of this blue stone and founded the Los Chupaderos mine.
Natives believed the stone to come from the sea calling it "Blue Stone". Mendez took the name for sea in Spanish (mar) and with his daughter's name, Larissa, created the stone today we know as Larimar.
Pectolite is found in many locations, but Larimar has a unique volcanic blue coloration, which is the result of copper substitution for calcium. In August 2021 the main mines for Larimar were closed as they became too dangerous to work. Despite government plans to rescue the larger Larimar mines and make them safer, Larimar is found only in one location and only in the heart of one specific mountain. It has and will continue to become increasingly harder to get and some expert geologists believe it will be mined out by 2035.
Metaphysically Larimar brings calming and soothing energy to the emotional body, enhanced communication, feminine power, and connection with water energies. It works well with the third eye and throat chakras. Allowing the soft and subtle colors of Larimar to bring serenity and ease stress related issues, one can free oneself form unhealthy attachments.
Larimar carries with it the beauty and soul of the Caribbean Sea and is a wonderful stone to wear during these hot summer months, helping to bring a cool "ease-going" blue vibe to all wardrobes, occasions, and is a timeless look for every Summer season.