State Rocks and Stones

Official State Rocks and Stones

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.

In geology, a rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of one or more minerals or mineraloids. For example, the common rock granite is a combination of the quartz, feldspar and biotite minerals. The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. Rocks can also be composed of solid organic matter, coal is an example.

Rocks and stones have been used by mankind throughout history. From the Stone Age rocks have been used for tools. The minerals and metals found in rocks have been essential to human civilization.

Three major groups of rocks are defined: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. The scientific study of rocks is called petrology, which is an essential component of geology.

At least twenty-five states have declared official state rocks or state stones.

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



State Designated Rocks & Stones

State Symbols

Rocks & Stones - Designation - Adopted

Alabama Marble
Alabama State Rock - 1969
Alaska NA
Arizona NA
Arkansas Bauxite
Arkansas State Rock - 1967
California Serpantine
California State Rock & Lithologic Emblem - 1965
Colorado Yule marble
Colorado State Rock - 2004
Connecticut NA
Delaware NA
Washington, DC NA
Florida Agatized coral
Florida State Stone - 1979
Georgia NA
Hawaii NA
Idaho Star Garnet
Idaho State Stone or Gemstone - Feb 25, 1967
Illinois NA
Indiana Limestone (Salem limestone)
Indiana State Stone - 1971
Iowa Geode
Iowa State Rock -1967
Kansas NA
Kentucky Kentucky agate
Kentucky State Rock - 2000
Louisiana NA
Maine NA
Maryland NA
Massachusetts Granite
Massachusetts State Building and Monument Stone - 1983
Massachusetts Dighton Rock
Massachusetts State Explorer Rock - 1983
Massachusetts Plymouth Rock
Massachusetts State Historical Rock - 1983
Massachusetts Roxbury Puddingstone (Roxbury Conglomerate)
Massachusetts State Rock - 983
Massachusetts Rolling Rock (Falls River)
Massachusetts State Glacial Rock - Aug 4, 2008
Michigan Petoskey stone
Michigan State Stone - 1965
Minnesota NA
Mississippi Petrified Wood
Mississippi State Stone - 1976
Missouri Mozarkite
Missouri State Rock - 1967
Montana NA
Nebraska Chalcedony stone, (Prairie agate)
Nebraska State Rock - 1943
Nevada Sandstone
Nevada State Rock - 1987
New Hampshire Granite
New Hampshire State Rock - 1985
New Jersey NA
New Mexico NA
New York NA
North Carolina Emerald
North Carolina State Precious stone - 1973
North Carolina Granite
North Carolina State Rock - 1979
North Dakota NA
Ohio NA
Oklahoma Barite Rose (Rose rock)
Oklahoma State Rock - 1968
Oregon Thunderegg
Oregon State Rock - 1965
Pennsylvania NA
Rhode Island Cumderlandite
Rhode Island State Rock - 1966
South Carolina Blue granite
South Carolina State Stone - 1969
South Dakota Rose quartz
South Dakota State Mineral Stone - 1966
Tennessee Calcium carbonate (Limestone)
Tennessee State Rock - 1979
Texas Petrified palmwood
Texas State Stone - 1969
Utah Coal
Utah State Rock - 1991
Vermont Marble
Vermont State Rock - 1992
Vermont Granite
Vermont State Rock - 1992
Vermont Slate
Vermont State Rock - 1992
Virginia NA
Washington NA
West Virginia Bituminous coal
West Virginia State Rock
- 2009
Wisconsin Red granite
Wisconsin State Rock - 1971
Wyoming NA
State Rocks,
Minerals, & Gems
US State Gemstone or Gems

Gemstone, Minerals, Rocks