LarimarThe bright gemmy variety of Pectolite (seet.co/EJOmFf8JwI) is called Larimar in the tr

LarimarThe bright gemmy variety of Pectolite (seehttp://t.co/EJOmFf8JwI) is called Larimar in the trade, and only comes from one mine in the Dominican Republic. It is a rare collector’s gemstone, and a bit soft for jewellery which combined with the low availability to keep it relatively unknown. While first discovered in 1916 by a priest, it was forgotten until 1974 when a local man and a member of the US Peace Corps rediscovered it. It got its name from the finder’s daughter, combined with the Spanish for sea, since it displays the lovely azure hue common to Caribbean waters. The blue shade comes from a whiff of manganese, with its saturation (depth of colour) dependent on how much is present. They vary from white, through blue-green to a deep shade known as volcanic blue (see the photo). It is sensitive to light, which causes the colour to gradually fade and should be kept in the dark when not in use.It formed in the tubes in Miocene basalts and andesites, when mineralised steam and gases was circulating through empty lava tubes, so the mines consist of many parallel shafts following them into the mountain. The event was localised, and it only occurs in one hill, with some eroded material being washed into the river below.LozImage credit: Gemology Onlinehttp://www.minerals.net/gemstone/larimar_gemstone.aspxhttp://www.gemselect.com/other-info/blue-larimar.phphttp://www.vinow.com/blog/the-story-of-larimar-the-caribbean-gem-175/ -- source link

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