The mining of Larimar is at the mercy of Mother Nature, whose affects can be devastating not only on the mines, but the villages who sustain them. With such a small deposit, the most trivial influence can have a catastrophic affect. The 5-month hurricane season is a long time to hold one's breath: a single mudslide could destroy the entire mine.
Mining, of course, is a delicate proposition. Machinery and dynamite can destroy the stone, yet it is armored in weathered basalt. The result: Larimar must be mined by dedicated hands! The deepest mines are up to a three hundred feet deep, yet the veins can be quite small and difficult to locate. All of these factors limit the amount of this rare and precious stone.
Each of the people you see in these pictures live in local villages. Larimar has a tremendous influence on their lives. You can easily find entire families working together, each individual playing a vital role. Without this amazing stone, these people would subsist as fisherman and farmers. They consider themselves very fortunate that this beautiful gemstone's provenance is theirs alone, supporting their families and community.
