Larimar derives its name from a combination of Larissa and Mar. Larissa was the daughter of a Dominican man named Miguel Méndez who owned the Los Chupaderos mine where larimar was first discovered in 1916. The "Mar" portion refers to the Caribbean Sea. By combining the two words, the name larimar describes the ocean blue color of the stone.
For many years after its discovery, larimar was not widely known outside of the Dominican Republic. The local people appreciated the stone for its beauty but there was no systematic mining. This changed in 1974 when Miguel Méndez partnered with a Peace Corps volunteer named Norman Rilling who had fallen in love with the stone.
Rilling brought samples of larimar back to the United States to gauge interest. He later returned to help set up the first organized mining and marketing operation for larimar. This helped introduce larimar to the rest of the world and created demand for the gemstone.
The Dominican Republic is home to the only known deposits of larimar in the world. More specifically, it is confined to a single mountainous region in the country.
The Los Chupaderos Mine
The Los Chupaderos mine near the city of Barahona is where larimar was originally discovered. It is located high up in the Sierra Bahoruco Oriental mountain range in the southwestern Dominican Republic. The mine sits about 1,200 feet above sea level and is surrounded by lush tropical forest.
For many decades after Méndez first found larimar here in 1916, the Los Chupaderos mine was the only source of larimar stone. Local miners excavated the blue pectolite by hand using very basic tools. Larimar was originally just a side product from mining activities focused on extracting copper, gold and silver from the mountains. So only small quantities were produced.
Today, the Los Chupaderos mine remains one of the most important sources of high quality larimar. But several other nearby sites have also begun to yield larimar specimens.
The Geological Origins
Most gemstones form deep underground due to high pressure and heat. But this is not the case with larimar. It is formed near the earth's surface by hydrothermal activity in the volcanic rocks of the Sierra Bahoruco Oriental mountain range.
These mountains were created by tectonic forces along the border where the Caribbean and North American plates collide. Violent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes have shaped this landscape over millions of years. The formation of larimar began when hot subterranean water rich with dissolved minerals crystallized as it filled fractures and cavities in the volcanic rocks. These cavities allowed the pectolite crystals space to grow larger.
Trace amounts of copper in this mineral-rich water are responsible for the vivid blue color of larimar. The copper replaces some of the calcium in the mineral pectolite which causes it to take on a blue to greenish-blue hue. Higher copper concentrations produce deeper ocean blue tones.
Larimar Deposits
In addition to the Los Chupaderos mine, several other deposits in the same mountain range have been found to contain larimar quality pectolite. These include the highly productive Los Checheses mine and the Anamuya and Los Arroyos (III) mines. Several other sites in the area are also being explored for new larimar deposits.
But not just any pectolite from this region is considered true larimar. Only the very finest quality specimens that exhibit the beautiful distinct blue color and pleasing patterns are classified as larimar. Much of the pectolite mined in this area lacks the desirable coloring and is merely sold as common pectolite.
Larimar is only found within this relatively small region of one mountain range. And of all the pectolite located here, just a small percentage meets the criteria to be marketed as larimar. This rarity is part of what makes larimar so precious.
Mining Larimar Today
Most larimar mining today is done in small-scale artisanal operations. The exception is the large Los Checheses mine which is mechanized and has greatly expanded production. But elsewhere, traditional manual techniques are still the norm.
Simple open pit mining is typically used to reach shallow larimar deposits. Miners search for veins of blue pectolite visible on the surface. They follow these vein outcroppings deeper underground, extracting the larimar with basic hand tools. The work is difficult and dangerous.
Once extracted, the rough larimar is sorted to select only the finest pieces with the deepest blue colors. These top grade stones are then shaped and polished by skilled artisans into finished larimar jewelry and ornamental stones. Lower grade pieces are often carved into decorative items as well.
Continued Popularity
Larimar has remained highly popular since being introduced to the world in the 1970s. Its rare supply and gorgeous ocean-like color keep demand high. The unique volcanic origins of this stone add to its appeal. Both local Dominican artisans and jewelry designers around the world utilize larimar.
While substantial new deposits have been uncovered in recent decades, larimar mining remains on a small scale. Tight restrictions are now in place limiting its extraction. This helps prevent over-mining and keeps supplies limited. As long as larimar remains rare, it will continue to capture the fascination of gem lovers for years to come.
