Pectolite (Larimar)
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Ra%27ike" title="User:Ra'ike">Ra'ike</a> (see also: <a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benutzer:Ra%27ike" class="extiw" title="de:Benutzer:Ra'ike">de:Benutzer:Ra'ike</a>) (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NamePectolite (Larimar)
Chemical FormulaNaCa₂Si₃O₈(OH)
Mohs Hardness4.5
Crystal Systemtriclinic
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavageperfect on {100} and {001}
Fractureuneven
Specific Gravity2.8
Colorsblue, white, greenish-blue
Transparencytranslucent
Type LocalityBarahona Province, Dominican Republic
Mineral Groupsilicates
Usesjewelry, ornamental, collector
Associated Mineralscalcite, natrolite, prehnite, copper minerals
Rarityrare
Description
This image displays a polished, tumbled specimen of Larimar, exhibiting a striking blend of sky blue, white, and greenish-blue colors with subtle banding and some darker inclusions.
Geological Context
Larimar is a variety of pectolite that forms in cavities within basaltic volcanic rocks, typically as a secondary mineral associated with hydrothermal activity in vugs and fractures.
