Larimar
LARIMAR is a rare blue variety of pectolite (calcium-sodium silicate) found only in the Dominican Republic, in the Caribbean. Since being officially discovered in 1974 by Miguel Méndez and Peace Corps volunteer Norman Rilling, the beautiful stone has been extracted from volcanic tubes or chimneys where it was formed. Pectolite is found in a variety of locations, however none have the volcanic blue coloration of LARIMAR which owes its beautiful color to copper.
Miguel Méndez named the new mineral LARIMAR for his daughter Larissa and for "mar"- Spanish for "sea".
Chemistry: calcium-sodium silicate ♦ Color: colorless, white, gray, pale blue, intense blue ♦ Luster: vitreous to silky ♦ Transparency: translucent to opaque ♦ Crystal Form: triclinic system ♦ Cleavage: basal cleavage ♦ Moh's hardness: 5 ♦ Localities: Dominican Republic