Larimar was
discovered back in 1916 by a local priest called Miquel Domingo Fuertes Lorén.
He was born in the little town of Daroca, in Zaragoza (Spain) in 1871. After
studying both philosophy and theology he became a priest in South America. He first
moved to Argentina and Peru and became head of the parish of Barahona (Dominican
Republic) in 1909.
Santa Cruz
de Barahona is the biggest en most important city of the province Barahona and
is located in the south/west of the Dominican Republic, close to the border
with Haiti. The local economy is mainly dependant form the seaport, ecotourism and
sugar production.
Althought
the priest Fuertes Lorén was the first person discovering Larimar; he was not
the one responsible for its name. In the 1970s the local artist Miguel Mendez rediscovered
the stone. Miguel Mendez named the stone after Larissa (his daughter) in
combination with mar (Spanish for sea). Anyone who has seen the beautiful exquisite
blue Caribbean waters on the island of the Dominican Republic will concur that Larimar
is appropriate and descriptive name for the stone.
Larimar is
surrounded and protected by a small range of remote mountains on the Island of
Hispaniola, whose volcanic heritage forged this blue gemstone. Millions of
years of erosion washed Larimar downstream into a river, making its final
destination a beautiful, remote beach in the Caribbean.
Larimar is found
in the remote mountain area of Barahona province. High on a remote and isolated
mountain top in Sierra de Baoruco national park, miners use picks and shovels
to quarry for larimar. Larimar is a variety of pectolite, an acid silicate
hydrate of sodium and calcium. The light ocean blue color distinct Larimar from
other pectolites. In combination with the white patterns it makes every piece
of Larimar unique.
In addition
to be a beautiful stone, larimar is also said to have natural healing
properties. It promotes tranquillity and a gives a strong sense of inner peace
and serenity.
Looking for Larimar pendants or stones?
http://www.richmondcrystal.co.uk/larimar/
Looking for Larimar pendants or stones?
http://www.richmondcrystal.co.uk/larimar/
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