It is mined in the world's only mine, Los Chupaderos in the Dominican Republic, and in 1998 its museum was established. We are talking about larimar - a "young" but completely unique semi-precious stone, the demand for which is increasing every day.
Larimar (Spanish larimar) is a type of pectolite, a rare mineral of volcanic origin, deposits of which are found only in one place on earth - in the Dominican Republic. Larimar inclusions can be found in chunks of volcanic rock ejected by rivers onto the shores. In water, stones are polished and acquire a silky shine; Larimar colors - white, light blue, deep blue, greenish blue. The deep blue larimars are considered the most valuable. Their shade is called "volcanic blue". A characteristic feature of the larimar is its uneven coloration. Some specimens may contain red or brown inclusions - iron oxides. Another curious property of this mineral is that it shines through. The story of the discovery of the larimar is certainly interesting. For the first time, this rare mineral was discovered relatively recently - in 1916 - by a Spanish priest. However, then the stone did not interest anyone. The second discovery was made only in the 70s, when the American Norman Rilling, a member of the Peace Corps, and Miguel Mendes, a local jeweler, found a larimar in the mountains. The stone was sent for examination, and in 1974 the Smithsonian Institution in the USA classified the mineral as brand new. The mineral got its name in honor of the youngest daughter of the discoverer Larissa and the word "sea" (in Spanish - "mar"). Larimar is also called dolphin stone, Atlantic stones, Haitian or Dominican turquoise. Typically, larimar is set in silver; the most popular type of cut is cabochon. Also, its mineral is often used to create all kinds of souvenirs. Finally, it is worth mentioning the healing properties attributed to each stone. Dominicans believe that wearing a larimar helps to restore the psyche. The stone has antipyretic properties and helps with ailments.
