Larimar And Dominican Amber
Larimar is a blue pectolite formed a result of volcanic activity, which occurred many million years ago on the island of la “La Hispañola”. Its crystallization took place when the volcanic lava was cooling off as columns in the tubular “chimneys”, in which these pectolites, andesites, basalts and other minerals formed.
This gemstone was called Larimar by Mr. Miguel Mendez: “Lari” in honor of his daughter “Larissa” and at the sea - in Spanish “Mar -” where it is found.
This beautiful gemstone is located at “Los Chupaderos”, about 10 kilometers southwest of the city of Barahona, in the southwestern region of the Dominican Republic. The most popular colors of Larimar are blue and green interlaced with white. However, it can appear in a variety of shades resembling the Caribbean Ocean combined with brown, red and gray.
Difference between Dominican Amber and Baltic Amber
Dominican Amber stands out from Baltic and other region’s Amber due to its variety of colors that range from a light yellow to a deeply red as well as blue and extremely rare smoky green.
Amber is a hardened tree resin, composed of alcohols, compounds of terpenes, and esters. Trees produced it as a protection against disease and insect infestation when the bark of a tree was opened due to a limb that had broken away, attacks by wood-boring beetles, or for other reasons.
After oozing out, it hardened in wet sediments, such as clay and sand that formed at the bottom of lagoons or river deltas and was preserved in the earth’s crust for millenniums.
Due to its rarity, fluorescent, blue, green and deep red are more expensive than other colors. Additionally, the intensity of color and immediate availability makes it more valuable.