GENUINE AAA GRADE DOMINICAN LARIMAR IN HANDMADE ORIGINAL DESIGN STERLING SILVER RING SETTING. U.S. SIZE 7 1/2

Larimar, also called "Stefilia's Stone” or “Jewel of Atlantis”, is a rare blue variety of pectolite found only in the Dominican Republic, in the Caribbean. Its coloration varies from white, light-blue, green-blue to deep blue.

History:

The Dominican Republic's Ministry of Mining records show that on 23 November 1916 Father Miguel Domingo Fuertes Loren of the Barahona Parish requested permission to explore and exploit the mine of a certain blue rock he had discovered. Pectolites were not yet known in the Dominican Republic and the request was rejected.

In 1974, at the foot of the Bahoruco Range, the coastal province of Barahona, Miguel Méndez and Peace Corps volunteer Norman Rilling rediscover Larimar on a beach. Natives, who believed the stone came from the sea, called the gem Blue Stone. Miguel took his young daughter's name Larissa and the Spanish word for sea (mar) and formed Larimar, by the colors of the water of the Caribbean Sea, where it was found. The few stones they found were alluvial sediment, washed into the sea by the Bahoruco River. An upstream search revealed the in situ outcrops in the range and soon the Los Chupaderos mine was formed.

Geology:

Larimar is a type of pectolite, or a rock composed largely of pectolite, an acid silicate hydrate of calcium and sodium. Although pectolite is found in many locations, none have the unique volcanic blue coloration of larimar. This blue color, distinct from that of other pectolites, is the result of copper substitution for calcium.
Miocene volcanic rocks, andesites and basalts, erupted within the limesrtones of the south coast of the island. These rocks contained cavities or vugs which were later filled with a variety of minerals including the blue pectolite. These pectolite cavity fillings are a secondary occurrence within the volcanic flows, dikes and plugs. When these rocks erode the pectolite fillings are carried downslope to end up in the alluvium and the beach gravels. The Bahoruco River carried the pectolite bearing sediments to the sea. The tumbling action along the streambed provided the natural polishing to the blue larimar which makes them stand out in contrast to the dark gravels of the streamed.

Los Chupaderos:

The most important outcrop of blue pectolite is located at Los Chupaderos, in the section of Los Checheses, about 10 kilometers southwest of the city of Barahona, in the south-western region of the Dominican Republic. It is a single mountainside now perforated with approximately 2,000 vertical shafts, surrounded by rainforest vegetation and deposits of blue-colored mine tailings. As of 2013 only 3 shafts remain productive. When these three shafts run dry there will be no more Larimar available and the value will skyrocket!

Jewelry:

Larimar jewelry is offered to the public in the Dominican Republic, and elsewhere in the Caribbean as a local speciality. Most jewelry produced is set in silver, but sometimes high-grade larimar is also set in gold. It also has become available elsewhere.

Quality grading is according to coloration and the typical mineral crystal configuration in the stone. Larimar also comes in green and even with red spots, brown strikes etc. due to other matters and / or oxidation.

SOME BELIEVE THAT LARIMAR IS THE BLUE STONE WITH EXTRAORDINARY HEALING POWERS THAT EDGAR CAYCE PREDICTED WOULD BE DISCOVERED IN THE CARIBBEAN, WHERE HE SAID PART OF ATLANTIS COULD BE FOUND.

• Created by volcanic activity, it balances water and fire energy
• Powerful throat chakra stone, assists in expression of emotions
• Teaches respect, love and nurturing
• Cleanses unhealthy emotional blocks, releases attachments
• Relieves depression and stress and brings tranquility to the wearer and/or home it is placed in.