Larimar glossary
Larimar vocabulary comes from geology, mineralogy, mining, gemology, lapidary work and the gemstone trade. The same word may be used precisely by one person and approximately by another.
This glossary separates formal scientific terms from trade vocabulary and Larimar Miner descriptors. Each definition identifies its category and links to a fuller guide where available.
Empty search state
No matching term was found. Try a broader word, check the spelling or search the full website. If a Larimar term is missing, send it to the editorial team for review—preferably before the internet gives it three contradictory meanings.
- Amygdale
- A mineral-filled cavity in volcanic rock that began as a gas bubble. Learn more
- Associated mineral
- A mineral occurring naturally with the principal mineral in the same specimen or deposit. Learn more
- Authentication
- The process of testing whether an object is consistent with its stated material identity and excluding plausible alternatives. Learn more
- Basalt
- A dark, fine-grained volcanic rock. Larimar mineralization occurs in altered basaltic rocks in Barahona. Learn more
- Cabochon
- A stone cut with a polished curved top and usually a flat or gently curved back rather than facets. Learn more
- Calcite
- Calcium carbonate, CaCO3, a common associated mineral that can occur with Larimar. Learn more
- Carat
- A unit of gemstone mass equal to 0.2 grams. It is not the same as gold fineness measured in karats. Learn more
- Chain of custody
- A documented record of who possessed, transferred, tested or processed an object or sample. Learn more
- Chromophore
- An element, ion or structural feature that contributes to a material's color through interaction with light. Learn more
- Cleavage
- The tendency of a mineral to break along particular crystallographic planes. Learn more
- Color zoning
- A systematic variation of color within a mineral or aggregate caused by changes during growth or alteration. Learn more
- Composite
- An object assembled from two or more materials or pieces, which must be disclosed when sold as a gemstone product. Learn more
- Density
- Mass per unit volume, commonly expressed in grams per cubic centimetre. Natural aggregates may vary because of porosity and associated minerals. Learn more
- Disclosure
- A clear statement of treatments, repairs, composites, limitations or other material facts relevant to a buyer or researcher. Learn more
- Field observation
- A dated observation tied to a person, place, specimen, photograph or measurement; valuable but not automatically universal. Learn more
- Fracture
- A break in a mineral or aggregate that does not follow a cleavage plane. Open fractures can affect durability and polish. Learn more
- Gem material
- Natural or manufactured material suitable for cutting, polishing, collecting or use in jewellery. Learn more
- Grade
- A quality assessment made under a stated system. A grade is meaningful only when its criteria and version are known. Learn more
- Host rock
- The rock that contains or surrounds a mineral deposit. Learn more
- Hydrothermal
- Relating to hot or warm mineral-bearing fluids that circulate through rock and can deposit minerals. Learn more
- Inclusion
- Material, a cavity or another feature enclosed within a mineral or gem object. Identification should not be based on color alone. Learn more
- Inosilicate
- A silicate mineral whose structural units form chains. Pectolite belongs to the pyroxenoid group of inosilicates. Learn more
- Lapidary
- The craft or practitioner concerned with cutting, shaping and polishing gem and ornamental materials. Learn more
- Matrix
- Host rock or other natural material remaining attached to or intergrown with the principal mineral. Learn more
- Meteoric water
- Water derived from precipitation, such as rain, that enters the ground and may participate in hydrothermal systems. Learn more
- Mohs hardness
- A relative scale of scratch resistance from 1 to 10. It does not directly measure resistance to impact or fracture. Learn more
- Native copper
- Copper occurring naturally in elemental metallic form rather than as a copper compound. Learn more
- Natrolite
- A zeolite mineral that has been reported as an associated phase in Larimar-bearing bodies. Learn more
- Pectolite
- A sodium-calcium hydroxysilicate mineral, NaCa2Si3O8(OH), that forms the principal mineral component of Larimar. Learn more
- Prehnite
- A calcium-aluminium silicate mineral reported among the associated minerals in Larimar-bearing material. Learn more
- Provenance
- The documented history of an object's origin, ownership, handling and processing. Learn more
- Radial fibrous
- A growth habit in which fine fibres radiate outward from a centre, often contributing to Larimar's visible patterns. Learn more
- Raman spectroscopy
- A spectroscopic method that records molecular vibrations and can help distinguish pectolite from look-alike materials. Learn more
- Refractive index
- A measure of how light changes direction in a material. Massive fibrous aggregates can give less straightforward readings than clear crystals. Learn more
- Rough
- Unfinished natural material before final sawing, shaping, polishing or setting. Learn more
- Specific gravity
- The ratio of a material's density to the density of water. It can support identification when measured appropriately. Learn more
- Spherulite
- A rounded aggregate of crystals growing radially from a centre. Learn more
- Stabilization
- The use of a substance or process to strengthen porous, fractured or weak material. It must be disclosed. Learn more
- Translucency
- The degree to which light passes through a material without a clear image being visible. Learn more
- Treatment
- A human-applied process intended to change appearance, durability or handling, including dyeing, filling, coating or stabilization. Learn more
- Triclinic
- The crystal system with the lowest symmetry; pectolite crystallizes in the triclinic system. Learn more
- Vein
- A mineral-filled fracture or tabular body cutting through rock. Learn more
- X-ray diffraction
- A method used to identify crystalline phases from their diffraction pattern. Learn more
- Yield
- The proportion of usable finished material obtained from rough after sawing, shaping and removal of defects or matrix. Learn more
- Zeolite
- A group of hydrated aluminosilicate minerals commonly formed in cavities of altered volcanic rocks; natrolite is a zeolite. Learn more
Keep exploring Open all 12 lessons 0/12 visited
- Lesson 01 What is Larimar?
- Lesson 02 The history of Larimar
- Lesson 03 Larimar geology and formation
- Lesson 04 Larimar mineralogy and physical properties
- Lesson 05 Why is Larimar blue?
- Lesson 06 Larimar patterns, inclusions and associated minerals
- Lesson 07 How to care for Larimar
- Lesson 08 Larimar and the Dominican Republic
- Lesson 09 Larimar symbolism and spiritual traditions
- Lesson 10 Larimar FAQ
- Lesson 11 Larimar glossary
- Lesson 12 How to read a Larimar specimen