List of U.S. State Minerals: Check the Official Mineral of Each State

Oct 1, 2025, 06:10 EDT

The United States boasts a rich variety of minerals, with each state designating an official mineral or gemstone reflecting its unique geology, history, and culture. These minerals, such as Arizona's turquoise and New York's garnet, are crucial for local economies, scientific exploration, and state identity, playing vital roles in technology, jewelry, and construction.

List of U.S. State Minerals

The United States is rich in many different types of minerals, some of which have been selected as state minerals to represent the state's geology, history, economy, and culture. Each state’s selection can typically be attributed to the state's unique geologic, mineralogical, and historical contexts. For example, Arizona's state mineral is copper and New York's state mineral is garnet.

These minerals are not merely rocks, they are tied to the foundations of local economies, scientific exploration motives, and state identity. Observing state minerals provides a window into the wealth of natural resources that exist underground and reveal the diversity of minerals that occur across the United States. These minerals are very important to technology, jewelry, construction, and they often have an important local or national historical significance.

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Complete List of U.S. State Minerals

Here is the complete list of U.S. State Minerals along with the official mineral, year and other details:

State	Official Mineral / Gemstone	Year Designated	Notes
Alabama	Hematite	1967	Iron ore used historically in steel production.
Alaska	Gold	1968	Reflects the state’s gold rush history.
Arizona	Turquoise	1912	Long valued by Native American tribes.
Arkansas	Diamond	1967	Only state with a publicly accessible diamond mine.
California	Gold	1965	Symbol of the Gold Rush era.
Colorado	Rhodochrosite	2002	Pink manganese carbonate, mined in the Sweet Home Mine.
Connecticut	Garnet	1977	Often used in jewelry and industrial abrasives.
Delaware	Sillimanite	1977	Reflects the state’s small deposits of silicate minerals.
Florida	Quartz	1970	Common in many parts of the state.
Georgia	Staurolite	1976	Known for “fairy cross” twinned crystals.
Hawaii	Black Coral	1985	Unique marine gemstone.
Idaho	Star Garnet	1971	Features a unique star pattern visible in sunlight.
Illinois	Fluorite	1965	Popular for its vibrant colors.
Indiana	Limestone	1977	Significant in architecture and construction.
Iowa	Geode	1967	Hollow, crystal-filled rocks popular among collectors.
Kansas	Galena	1972	Important lead ore historically mined.
Kentucky	Selenite	1990	A transparent variety of gypsum.
Louisiana	Agate	1976	Often found along the Gulf Coast.
Maine	Tourmaline	1971	Famous for its colorful crystals.
Maryland	Patuxent River Stone	1968	Local sedimentary rock with unique patterns.
Massachusetts	Babingtonite	1971	Found in the state’s basalt quarries.
Michigan	Chlorastrolite (Greenstone)	1972	Rare gemstone found in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Minnesota	Lake Superior Agate	1969	Named after the iconic Great Lake.
Mississippi	Limestone	1972	Used extensively in construction.
Missouri	Galena	1967	Reflects the state’s mining history.
Montana	Sapphire	1969	Found mainly in the western part of the state.
Nebraska	Petrified Wood	1967	Fossilized trees from ancient forests.
Nevada	Gold	1977	Highlights the state’s rich mining heritage.
New Hampshire	Biotite	1969	Common in granite formations.
New Jersey	Garnet	1970	Frequently used in abrasives and jewelry.
New Mexico	Turquoise	1967	Important in Native American culture.
New York	Garnet	1969	Historically used in jewelry and industrial tools.
North Carolina	Emerald	1971	Famous mines in the U.S. are in the state.
North Dakota	Sodalite	1965	Blue mineral with distinctive color patterns.
Ohio	Fluorite	1965	Ohio is a major source of colorful fluorite.
Oklahoma	Barite	1963	Heavy mineral used in industry.
Oregon	Oregon Sunstone	1987	Rare gemstone found in volcanic deposits.
Pennsylvania	Celestine	1967	Found in sedimentary rocks across the state.
Rhode Island	Bowenite	1965	A variety of jade used historically.
South Carolina	Amethyst	1969	Found mainly in the northwestern Piedmont.
South Dakota	Fairburn Agate	1966	Noted for intricate banding patterns.
Tennessee	Agate	1969	Often used for ornamental purposes.
Texas	Texas Blue Topaz	1969	Found mainly in the Llano Uplift region.
Utah	Topaz	1969	Known for deep amber and pink shades.
Vermont	Talc	1977	Key industrial mineral for powders.
Virginia	Galena	1969	Historical lead mining resource.
Washington	Petrified Wood	1975	Represents ancient forest ecosystems.
West Virginia	Hematite	1969	Iron ore vital in early industrial development.
Wisconsin	Galena	1968	Linked to the state’s lead mining past.
Wyoming	Jade	1967	Used historically by Native Americans for tools and ornaments.

5 Most Common Minerals in the United States

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The United States is rich in natural resources and is home to certain widely distributed minerals across a number of states. The minerals are plentiful and relevant for industry, construction, manufacturing, and are even used in jewelry. Here are the five most common minerals found in the U.S.:

1. Quartz

Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the United States, and forms in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. It ranks as one of the most widely used minerals due to its clarity and durability, and is necessary in glass, electronics and jewelry. California and Arkansas are known for high-quality quartz crystals.

2. Feldspar

Feldspar is commonly used in making ceramics and glass. Because of its abundance in the rocks of the U.S., it is one of the most mined minerals in the U.S. North Carolina and Virginia are leading producers of feldspar for use in household and industrial applications.

3. Calcite

Calcite, which is a type of calcium carbonate, has usage in cement, lime and steel manufacture. It is found in large amounts in the sedimentary rocks across Missouri, Michigan and Iowa, and is of great importance to the construction industry.

4. Gypsum

Gypsum is soft and even lighter in weight, white, and widely used in drywall, plaster, and cement. Oklahoma, Iowa, and Texas will have a continuous supply of gypsum deposits to support the booming construction market in the United States.

5. Mica

Mica is an interesting mineral known for its shiny, flaky texture and excellent electrical insulation properties. Mica is used in electronics as well as in paints and cosmetics. Some of the more significant suppliers of mica include South Dakota, New Mexico, and North Carolina.

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