Official State Gems

Thirty-five of the 50 states have designated an official state gem. (Montana and Nevada have named both a precious and semiprecious gemstone.) A gemstone is not necessarily a sparkling crystal—the majority of state gemstones are not crystalline minerals, but colorful rocks that look their best as flat, polished cabochons, perhaps in a bolo tie or belt buckle. They are unpretentious, inexpensive stones with democratic appeal. The gem names are linked to the picture gallery of state gemstones. The "source" link goes to the best existing material from the respective state government. My favorite site for all state symbols is at netstate.com.

Most gemstones have both a gemstone name and a mineral name, cross-listed in this pair of tables.

Alabama: Star blue quartz (source)
Alaska: Jade (source)

Arizona: Turquoise (source)
Arkansas: Diamond (source)
California: Benitoite (source)
Colorado: Aquamarine (source)
Florida: Moonstone (source)
Georgia: Quartz (source)
Hawaii: Black coral (source)
Idaho: Star garnet (source)
Kentucky: Freshwater pearl (source)
Louisiana: Agate (source)
Maine: Tourmaline (source)
Maryland: Agate (source)
Massachusetts: Rhodonite (source)
Michigan: Chlorastrolite (pumpellyite) (source)
Minnesota: Agate (source)
Montana: Sapphire and Agate (source)
Nebraska: Blue agate (source)
Nevada: Turquoise and Fire opal (source)
New Hampshire: Smoky quartz (source)
New Mexico: Turquoise (source)
New York: Almandine garnet (source)
North Carolina: Emerald (source)
Ohio: Flint (source)
Oregon: Sunstone (source)
South Carolina: Amethyst (source)
South Dakota: Agate (source)
Tennessee: Freshwater pearls (source)
Texas: Topaz (source)
Utah: Topaz (source)
Vermont: Grossular garnet (source)
Washington: Petrified wood (source)
West Virginia: Fossil coral Lithostrotionella (source)
Wyoming: Nephrite jade (source)