Official State Minerals

State Minerals Designations

States in the U.S. which have significant mineral deposits often create a state mineral, rock, stone or gemstone to promote interest in their natural resources, history, tourism, etc. Not every state has an official state mineral, rock, stone and/or gemstone, however.

Mineral is any naturally occurring, three dimensional, inorganic substance or compounds, with a chemical structure that can be exact, or can vary within limits. Elements that occur naturally are also listed as minerals. There are a few substances that lack one of these definitions but are still generally classified as a mineral, such as Opal, which lacks a definitive chemical structure. A mineral has an ordered atomic structure. It is different from a rock, which can be an aggregate of minerals or non-minerals and does not have a specific chemical composition. The exact definition of a mineral is under debate, especially with respect to the requirement a valid species be abiogenic, and to a lesser extent with regards to it having an ordered atomic structure. The study of minerals is called mineralogy.

Minerals can be described by various physical properties which relate to their chemical structure and composition. Common distinguishing characteristics include crystal structure and habit, hardness, lustre, diaphaneity, colour, streak, tenacity, cleavage, fracture, parting, and specific gravity. More specific tests for minerals include reaction to acid, magnetism, taste or smell, and radioactivity.

At least 22 of the 50 states have designated an official state mineral.

Also, a state's official state rock may be a mineral, just as one of the minerals in this list is actually a rock. And a state's official mineral may be confused with its official gemstone. Be sure to check those lists,

In the chart below, a year which is listed the year during which that mineral was officially adopted as a State symbol or emblem



Minerals of the Fifty US States

State Symbols

 Minerals - Designation - Adopted

Alabama Hematite (Red iron ore)
Alabama State Mineral - 1967
Alaska Gold
Alaska State Mineral - 1968
Arizona Fire Agate
Arizona Un-official State Minera
l - NA
Arkansas Quartz crystal
Arkansas State Mineral - 1967
California Native Gold
California State Mineral and Mineralogic Emblem
  - 1965
Colorado Rhodochrosite
Colorado State Mineral - 2002
Connecticut Garnet
Connecticut State Mineral - 1977
Delaware Sillimanite
Delaware State Mineral - 1977
Washington, DC NA
Florida NA
Georgia Staurolite
Georgia State Mineral - 1976
Hawaii NA
Idaho NA
Illinois Calcium flouride (Flourite)
Illinois State Mineral - 1965
Indiana NA
Iowa NA
Kansas NA
Kentucky Coal
Kentucky State Mineral - 1998
Louisiana Agate
Louisiana State Mineral - 1976; 2011
Maine Tourmaline
Maine State Mineral - 1971
Maryland NA
Massachusetts Babingtonite
Massachusetts State Mineral - 1971
Michigan NA
Minnesota NA
Mississippi NA
Missouri Galena
Missouri State Mineral - 1967
Montana NA
Nebraska NA
Nevada Silver
Nevada State Metal
- 1977
New Hampshire Beryl
New Hampshire State Mineral - 1985
New Jersey NA
New Mexico NA
New York NA
North Carolina Gold Aurum
North Carolina State Mineral
- 2011
North Dakota NA
Ohio NA
Oklahoma NA
Oregon NA
Pennsylvania NA
Rhode Island Bowenite
Rhode Island State Mineral - 1966
South Carolina NA
South Dakota Rose quartz
South Dakota State Mineral Stone - 1966
South Dakota Black Hills Gold
South Dakota State Jewelry - Mar 3, 1988
Tennessee Agate
Tennessee State Mineral
- 2009
Texas NA
Utah Copper
Utah State Mineral - 1994
Vermont Talc
Vermont State Mineral - 1992
Virginia NA
Washington NA
West Virginia NA
Wisconsin Galena (Lead sulfide)
Wisconsin State Mineral - 1971
Wyoming NA
State Rocks,
Minerals, & Gems
US State Gemstone or Gems

Gemstone, Minerals, Rocks