---

 

Official State Gemstone and Gems

State Gemstone and State Gem of the Fifty-States

Gemstones are so fascinating! Gems colors, properties, myths, and legends are diverse and fascinating. Folklore about stones has been revered and honored for centuries in all cultures.

What Is A Gemstone? A mineral or rock, after it has been cut and polished, and that is pretty and hard enough to be worn as jewelry, is called a gemstone. Only 70 of more than 3,800 known mineral s are considered gemstones. About 20 of these 70 gems are commonly found. All gemstones have one thing in common - beauty. Beauty, however, is a rather intangible thing. The perception of beauty varies from person to person, and from culture to culture. Beauty in a mineral may mean color, luster , transparency, or brilliancy resulting from skillful cutting and polishing.

Much of the gemstone history comes from archeological discoveries, and ancient writings. They are often found in burial sites where they were meant to protect and accompany their owner into the next life

Soft, opaque stones were the first gemstone beads. By 2,500 B.C. carnelian, lapis lazuli, and rock crystal were in use.

Colorful gemstones were first found on the earth's surface. There is evidence of gemstone mining of lapis lazuli in Afghanistan as early as 5,000 BC. In 3,000 BC, There was mining of turquoise in the Sinai peninsula and of emeralds in Egypt. Amber was traded in the areas around the Baltic Sea. In North and South America turquoise was mined.

Find profiles of each of the US states that have official State Gemstone or Gems. Access state minerals, rocks, stones, and other symbols.

---

Official State Gemstone or Gems
State Symbols	Gemstone & Gem - Designation - Adopted
Alabama	Star Blue Quartz Alabama State Gemstone - 1990
Alaska	Jade Alaska State Gemstone - 1968
Arizona	Turquoise Arizona State Gemstone - 1974
Arkansas	Diamond Arkansas State Gemstone - 1967
California	Benitoite California State Gemstone - 1985
Colorado	Aquamarine Colorado State Gemstone - Apr 30, 1971
Connecticut	NA
Delaware	NA
Washington, DC	NA
Florida	Moonstone Florida State Gemstone - May 20, 1970
Georgia	Quartz Georgia State Gemstone - 1976
Hawaii	Black coral Hawaii State Gemstone - Apr 22, 1987
Idaho	Star Garnet Idaho State Stone or Gemstone - Feb 25, 1967
Illinois	NA
Indiana	NA
Iowa	NA
Kansas	NA
Kentucky	Fresh-Water Pearl Kentucky State Gemstone - Jul 15, 1986
Louisiana	Cabochon cut gemstone (Crassostrea virginica mollusk) Louisiana Cabochon Cut Gemstone - 2011
Maine	NA
Maryland	Patuxent River Stone Agate Maryland State Gem - 2004
Massachusetts	Rhodonite (Mn++,Fe++,Mg,Ca)SiO3 ) Massachusetts State Gemstone - 1979
Michigan	Chlorastrolite (aka Isle Royale greenstone) Michigan State Gemstone - Mar 30, 1973
Minnesota	Lake Superior agate Minnesota State Gemstone - 1969
Mississippi	NA
Missouri	NA
Montana	Agate (SiO2 - Silicon Dioxide) Montana State Gemstone - 1969
Montana	Yogo Sapphire (Al2O3) Montana State Gemstone - 1969
Nebraska	Blue Agate (Blue chalcedony) (SiO2 - Silicon Dioxide) Nebraska State Gemstone - Mar 1, 1967
Nevada	Precious: Virgin Valley black fire opal Nevada State Precious Gemstone - May 27, 1987
Nevada	Semiprecious: Nevada turquoise Nevada State Semi-precious Gemstone - May 27, 1987
New Hampshire	Smoky quartz New Hampshire State Gemstone - 1985
New Jersey	NA
New Mexico	Turquoise New Mexico State Gemstone - Mar 23, 1967
New York	Garnet New York State Gemstone - 1969
North Carolina	Emerald North Carolina State Precious Stone - 1973
North Dakota	NA
Ohio	Flint Ohio State Gemstone - 1965
Oklahoma	NA
Oregon	Thunderegg Oregon State Rock - 1965
Oregon	Sunstone (Plagioclase Feldspar) Oregon State Gemstone - Aug 4, 1987
Pennsylvania	NA
Rhode Island	NA
South Carolina	Amethyst (SiO2 - Silicon Dioxide) South Carolina State Gemstone - Jun 24, 1969
South Dakota	Fairburn agate South Dakota State Gemstone - Feb 11, 1966
Tennessee	Freshwater Pearl Tennessee State Gemstone - 1979
Texas	Texas blue topaz Texas State Gemstone - Mar 26, 1969
Utah	Topaz Utah State Gemstone - Feb 4, 1969
Vermont	Grossular garnet Vermont State Gemstone - 1991
Virginia	NA
Washington	Petrified wood Washington State Gemstone - Mar 12, 1975
West Virginia	Silicified Mississippian fossil coral Lithostrotionella (chalcedony) West Virginia State Gemstone - Mar 10, 1990
Wisconsin	NA
Wyoming	Jade (Nephrite) Wyoming State Gemstone - 1967

© Copyright 2004-2024, eRD (eReferenceDesk.com) owned and operated by Joseph L Ferguson. All rights reserved.