Alabama State Rock, Mineral & Gem: Hematite, Marble, Star blue quartz

Alabama's official mineral is hematite, adopted in 1967. Alabama's official state rock is marble, adopted in 1969. Alabama's state gemstone is star blue quartz, adopted in 1990.

Symbol names and dates are taken from primary state sources linked below. Informal or proposed symbols are not listed unless adopted.

Hematite specimen — Hematite (not necessarily from Alabama). Photo: Wikipedia Loves Art participant "Assignment_Houston_One", CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Official mineral: Hematite

Adopted:: 1967

Hematite is a mineral (Fe₂O₃) with a Mohs hardness of 5.5–6.5 and a metallic to earthy luster, usually silvery, black or red.

The state archives call it red iron ore.

How to identify hematite →

Often confused with: Banded Iron Formation, Cinnabar, Cuprite

Marble specimen — Marble (not necessarily from Alabama). Photo: Zyance, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Official state rock: Marble

Adopted:: 1969
Law:: Act No. 755 (1969)

Marble is a metamorphic rock with a Mohs hardness of about 3–4 and a sugary sparkle luster, usually white, gray, pink or green.

How to identify marble →

Often confused with: Anorthosite, Carbonatite, Dolostone

Also an official symbol of: Colorado, Vermont

Quartz specimen — Quartz (not necessarily from Alabama). Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

State gemstone: Star blue quartz

Adopted:: 1990
Law:: Act No. 90-203
Variety:: star blue quartz

It is a variety of quartz. Quartz is a mineral (SiO₂) with a Mohs hardness of 7 and a vitreous luster, usually colorless, white or gray.

How to identify quartz →

Often confused with: Albite, Apophyllite, Beryl

Also an official symbol of: Arkansas

Alabama state symbols FAQ

What is the official mineral of Alabama?

Alabama's official mineral is hematite, adopted in 1967.

What is the official state rock of Alabama?

Alabama's official state rock is marble, adopted in 1969 (Act No. 755 (1969)).

What is the state gemstone of Alabama?

Alabama's state gemstone is star blue quartz, adopted in 1990 (Act No. 90-203).

Sources

We cite primary sources (statutes, state government pages, federal regulations, and land-manager sites). Third-party listicles are not used as citations.

Alabama Emblems: Official Mineral — Alabama Department of Archives and History (accessed 2026-10-24).
Alabama Emblems: Official State Rock — Alabama Department of Archives and History (accessed 2026-10-24).
Alabama Emblems: State Gemstone — Alabama Department of Archives and History (accessed 2026-10-24).

Last verified 2026-10-24. Corrections welcome: if a statute has changed, tell us and we'll re-verify.

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