Larimar is a rare blue variety of pectolite found only in the Dominican Republic. The color can range from white to pale blue to green blue to a sea blue to deep blue. It is a truly beautiful stone. Although discovered in 1916, it was not mined until it was rediscovered in 1974. Its name is a combination of the name Larissa (daughter of one of the rediscoverers), and "mar" which means sea in Spanish - thus Larimar. The more intense the blue and the more contrast in the stone, the higher and rarer is the quality. The blue color is photosensitive and can fade over time if exposed to too much light and heat.