Usually the rock or mineral elected state rock or mineral is one that comes in either large masses or has real value. These rock, stones and minerals, may be in quantities that permit economic exploitation or they can be mineral oddities or highly recognizable mineral forms.
The following state minerals, rocks and stones are valuable commodities in and of themselves, and are exploited when found in sufficient quantity. There are metal ores in the state rocks and minerals.
- Arkansas rock: Bauxite (aluminum ore)
- Alaska mineral: Gold
- California mineral: Gold
- Minnesota mineral: Iron
- Missouri mineral: Galena (lead ore)
- Nevada mineral: Silver
- Rhode Island rock: Cumberlandite (source of iron and titanium)
- Utah mineral: Copper
- Wisconsin mineral: Galena
There are fossil fuels.
- Kentucky mineral: Coal
- Utah rock: Coal
- West Virginia rock: Coal
There are other minerals used in industry:
- Vermont mineral: Talc
There are state rocks and stones that are utilized as building materials.
- Alabama rock: Marble
- Colorado rock: Yule marble
- Indiana stone: Limestone
- Nevada rock: Sandstone
- New Hampshire rock: Granite
- North Carolina stone: Granite
- South Carolina stone: Blue granite
- Tennessee rock: Limestone
- Vermont stone: marble and slate
- Vermont rock: Granite
- Wisconsin rock: Red granite
State minerals, rocks and stones that are more geological curiosities, semi-precious stones or crystals than commodities, not including quartz and its relatives.
- Alabama mineral: Hematite
- California rock: Serpentine
- Oklahoma rock: Rose Rock – Barite crystal
- Delaware mineral: Sillimanite
- Georgia mineral: Staurolite
- Rhode Island mineral: Bowenite (serpentine)
- Michigan gemstone: Chlorastrolite (aka Isle Royale greenstone)
- Maryland gemstone: Rhodonite
The many forms of quartz that are state stones or minerals present interesting or beautiful features.
- Arizona mineral: Fire Agate
- Arkansas mineral: Quartz
- Florida stone: Agatized Coral
- Georgia rock: Quartz
- Iowa rock: Geode
- Louisiana mineral: Agate
- Maryland gemstone: Patuxent River Stone
- Minnesota gemstone: Lake Superior agate
- Missouri rock: Mozarkite (a flint)
- Nebraska rock: Prairie agate
- Ohio gemstone: Ohio Flint
- Oregon rock: Thunderegg
- Montana mineral: Agate
- Nebraska mineral: Blue Agate
- South Dakota gemstone: Fairburn agate
- Tennessee stone: Agate
Finally, there is one conglomerate in the list, the Roxbury puddingstone as Maryland’s rock.
You may find small samples of these materials at tourist gift shops, or depicted on postcards. Look for them as you travel the US.
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