Volcanic phenomena
A volcano is an opening in the terrestrial crust. During some eruptions, a flow of very hot, fused rocky material
raises from the depths of the Earth and leaves the mouth of the volcano. The fused rocky material is called lava.
Genesis
Many million ago years, the island of "La Hispaņola" began to be formed by parts, emerging from the marine depth.
The first Central Mountain range was constituted by volcanic rocks. Approximately 100 million years ago, began
to emerge the Mountain range of Bahoruco, in the southwest of the island, starting with its Eastern portion.
In its constitution it also contained volcanic rocks which in geology are well-known as andesines and basalts.
As the magma or incandescent parts of the interior of the planet were pushed towards outside, the masses became visible
on the terrestrial crust and, when cooling off, would give origin to the rock bulk. The chemical components of these
incandescent solutions were very diverse. The minerals in form of silicates stood out and were mixed with aluminum components,
as well as sodium, calcium, iron, etc.... forming therefore essential and secondary minerals. Among all this
chemical package, an association which is very little frequent in nature, formed itself: silicium-oxygenate with sodic
and calcic elements.
Thus they formed randomly in suitable proportions compact concretions of small masses, which had some brightness and
manifold color variaties which are known in geology by the name of pectolites. This name was given by the German
geologist Kobell in 1828 as he joined the Greek words pektos ("something formed by different parts") and lithos ("rock").
The pectolite is, therefore, a secondary rock.
The vulcanic process, could move over the years incandescent masses to the surface that changed the rocks that already
had formed there. Limestone rocks started to build up on top of them, but the hot gases and the concentrated fire perforated
the rocks creating true tubular chimneys.
Because of the high temperature affecting the
incandescent masses that had been pushed by the gases of the interior, the crystallization of some materials took place.
When the volcanic lava was cooling off in the chimney, it became columns as a firm support of a mass in which
blue andesites, pectolites, basalts and other minerals formed. The dark and gray ashes in the tube, chimney or column,
showed a strong contrast with the color of the other materials.
So, by the end of the Miocene, the rocks layed exposed on limestone. The process of erosion and meteorization, as a result of the
meteorological conditions (water, wind, temperature...), fractured and moved some rock fragments into the bed
of the Bahoruco river, and from here, the waters took them to the coasts of the sea.
 Because of their color and for
having recieved a polishing by friction, they caused much attention as blue pectolites rocks or larimar.
Pectolite around the world
The pectolite, formerly denominated "ratholite", is an acid silicate hydrate of calcium and sodium. Of ample diffusion
in the world, we can find deposits of this mineral, known as outcrop, at very distant places of the planet:
The United States (Michigan, Arkansas, New Jersey, California), Canada, England (Scotland), India, Austria (Tyrolia),
among others. They have in fact been results and consequences of this volcanic Earth activity, many million years ago.
Blue Pectolite: Larimar
The only locality where Larimar, or blue pectolite appears
on the terrestrial crust, is the province of Barahona, in the south-western region of the Dominican Republic.
And you will be surprised: Our Larimar also comes in other colors than blue.
 to see.
Because of its collection ot rare specimen, its educational value and its beauty, the Larimar Museum
in Sto.Domingo is very unique as worldwide the only museum of its kind.
We look forward to welcome you and to guide you into the fascinating past of our island.
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