Larimar is a rare blue variety of the mineral pectolite found exclusively in the Dominican Republic. It is highly prized by collectors for its unique sky-blue coloration and white, cloud-like patterns that resemble sunlight filtering through Caribbean waters.
Spotting larimar in the field
Field marks- 1
Sky blue to blue-green with white patterning that suggests sunlight through shallow water
- 2
Opaque, with a fibrous radiating structure visible in the pattern
- 3
Hardness around 4.5 to 5, so it is soft and scratches easily
Larimar is a blue variety of pectolite and it comes from exactly one place on Earth: a small area in Barahona Province in the Dominican Republic, where it fills volcanic cavities. It is mined from a single mountainside and washes into the river below, and that is the entire world supply. For anyone outside the island this is a buying material, and the finiteness of the source is the main thing to understand about its price.
Straight answers
- Is it worth cutting?
- Soft, so it scratches in daily wear and suits pendants and earrings better than rings. Color can fade with prolonged strong sunlight.
- What is it really worth?
- Moderate to high and steadily rising, driven by a single finite source. Deep sky blue with strong white patterning is the top grade.
- Can you legally keep it?
- Imported. The mine area is regulated by the Dominican government and worked by local cooperatives.
Often confused with
Larimar vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside larimar
Minerals reported to co-occur with larimar. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaCa₂Si₃O₈(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5-5
- Density
- 2.7-2.9 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to Silky
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Fibrous, Radiating Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect in Two Directions
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Gemstone, Lapidary, Jewelry, Collector
- Host rock
- Basaltic Volcanic Cavities
- Typical price
- $10-50 per slab/cabochon, $100+ for high-quality specimens
Where rockhounds find larimar
Classic worldwide localities
- Barahona, Dominican Republic
Field-hunting tip
Look in basaltic volcanic cavities country, the host setting where larimar typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, natrolite, prehnite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, fibrous, radiating aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify larimar?+
Where is larimar found?+
How much is larimar worth?+
What rocks look like larimar?+
What minerals are found with larimar?+
What kind of rock does larimar form in?+
What is larimar used for?+
Find larimar on the map
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