Where is Larimar found?
Pectolite
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Open the appLarimar occurs in specific geological environments. Knowing where to look, and in what kind of rock, is the difference between going home empty-handed and finding a great specimen.
Where to find Larimar
Barahona Province, Dominican Republic
The only known commercial source of Larimar is a single mountainside in the Sierra de Bahoruco, specifically in the Filipinas Mine area, near the city of Barahona, in the southwestern part of the Dominican Republic. It is found in ancient volcanic pipes and vugs within basaltic lavas.
Collecting tips
- Geological Context. Larimar is found exclusively in specific geological settings: vugs and fractures within altered basaltic volcanic rocks. Prospecting would require identifying such formations.
- Color and Pattern Recognition. Look for the characteristic blue to blue-green color with white, gray, or reddish-brown patterns. The 'watery' or 'oceanic' appearance is a key identifier.
- Hardness Test. Larimar has a Mohs hardness of 4.5 to 5. It can be scratched by a steel knife (hardness ~5.5) but will scratch copper (hardness ~3).
- Specific Gravity. Its specific gravity ranges from 2.74 to 2.90. This can be used to distinguish it from lighter or heavier imitations.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Sky blue to deep blue, often with white streaks.
- Luster:
- Silky to vitreous.
- Streak:
- White.
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