Larimar is a rare, blue gemstone variety of the mineral pectolite, found exclusively in the Dominican Republic, near the city of Barahona. Its colours range from light blue to deep blue, and it's known for its unique, often sea-like, appearance.
The first Larimar mine was discovered in the Dominican Republic in 1916 by a priest, Father Miguel Domingo Fuertes de Loren, from the Barahona parish, in the southwest of the island.
At that time, the stone was not known or valued and the Dominican Ministry of Mining denied it the permission to operate the mine. The stone and the mine fell into oblivion.
It was not until 1976 that Miguel Méndez, a craftsman, learned of the existence of that stone. Helped by Norman Rilling, a geologist friend of the Peace Corps, they searched for the blue stone and began to extract it.
At first they named it “Travelina”, but Miguel Méndez decided name it “Larimar” in homage to his own daughter. By associating the nickname “Lari”, of his daughter Larissa with the word “mar” (“sea” in Spanish) due to its intense blue colour, he formed the name that today describes the beautiful blue stone nowadays recognized as the gem with the colour of the Caribbean Sea.
In 1979, Larimar was classified as a semi precious stone; The only Larimar mine in the world is located in Los Chupaderos, in the National District of Bahoruco, 23 kilometers from Santa Cruz de Barahona.
On October 21, 2016, the Ministry of Energy and Mines issued a resolution that prohibited the export of amber and larimar. Today, Larimar is only allowed to be exported in separate polished pieces.
Since 2018 in the Dominican Republic, “National Larimar Day” has been celebrated every November 22 in memory of the same date when in 1916, the priest Miguel Domingo Fuertes, discovered the stone in Barahona.
Healing Properties:
It is believed to promote emotional healing, reduce stress, and enhance communication. Larimar is often associated with the throat and heart chakras, helping to open communication channels and foster inner peace.
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