A Punta Cana Gem EarthCache
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A nice easy walk - depending on which beach you start!
Punta Cana, (see GC12J3T) is a beautiful area boasting of its white sandy beaches attracting many tourists annually. Nearby, in a small inaccessible region of the Dominican Republic is Barahona at the west coast of the Dominican near where you will find the results of volcanic activity from many million years ago.
Pectolite is an acid silicate hydrate of calcium and sodium. It is usually creamy white. There is one volcano complex on one square kilometre of land, the only place in the planet, where a rare variety of pectolite is found, named Larimar. This name is derived from part of the name of Miguel Mendez’ daughter (Larissa) combined with “mar” (Spanish for sea). This particular gem is more rare than diamonds. About a hundred years ago, the Priest Miguel Domingo Fuerte Loren of Barahona applied for permission to explore and exploit this mine. It is unknown if he received permission or not. In 1974, Norman Rilling, a member of the American Peace Corps along with Miguel Mendex, found pebbles at the Barahona beach and searched upstream along the Baoruco river. They found this “forgotten” mine again.
The most important source of Larimar is Los Chupaderos, situated 10 kilometers southwest of Barahona. It is basically a mountainside perforated with nearly 2000 vertical holes, surrounded by rainforest vegetation, composed fundamentally of basalts and porphyry rocks of great diversity.
It has been suggested by geologists, Miocene volcanic rocks erupted within the limestone on the coast of the island which contained cavities that were later filled with various minerals including pectolite.
Due to its magnificence the Larimar Stone is preferred as a gemstone. It is common to find it in jewellery all over the Island.
PLEASE note this warning: you do NOT have to venture too close to the vendors. The intent is not to make any purchases, ONLY to check out the larimar. A few catchers have been offended by the approach of vendors, and therefore, please decide before you go for this cache IF you can handle that possibility.
This cache is located near an area where you will find a sample of Larimar.
To log this cache, you must fulfill the following requirements: post your log which includes :
1. What color is the Larimar Stone?
2. What is the name of this beach resort?.
Post a picture of you holding your GPS in front of or near the Larimar stone (which is within a few feet of a sign which is proof you were there)
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
gnxr n srj fgrcf gbjneq gur frn naq ybbx qbja