Kansas State Rock, Mineral & Gem: Greenhorn limestone, Galena, Jelinite

Kansas's official state rock is Greenhorn limestone, adopted in 2018. Kansas's official state mineral is galena, adopted in 2018. Kansas's official state gemstone is jelinite, adopted in 2018.

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

Limestone specimen — Limestone (not necessarily from Kansas). Photo: Mike Davis, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Official state rock: Greenhorn limestone

Adopted:: 2018
Law:: K.S.A. 73-3701; L. 2018, ch. 34
Variety:: Greenhorn limestone

It is a variety of limestone. Limestone is a sedimentary rock with a Mohs hardness of about 3–4 and a dull luster, usually white, gray or brown.

The statute calls it a staple of the Kansas Flint Hills, used in buildings throughout the state.

How to identify limestone →

Often confused with: Carbonatite, Chalk, Coquina

Also an official symbol of: Indiana, Tennessee

Galena specimen — Galena (not necessarily from Kansas). Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Official state mineral: Galena

Adopted:: 2018
Law:: K.S.A. 73-3801

Galena is a mineral (PbS) with a Mohs hardness of 2.5–2.75 and a metallic luster, usually silvery or gray.

How to identify galena →

Often confused with: Acanthite, Bournonite, Chalcocite

Also an official symbol of: Missouri, Wisconsin

Amber specimen — Amber (not necessarily from Kansas). Photo: Anders L. Damgaard - www.amber-inclusions.dk - Baltic-amber-beetle, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Official state gemstone: Jelinite

Adopted:: 2018
Law:: K.S.A. 73-3901
Variety:: jelinite, formerly called kansasite

It is a variety of amber. Amber is a mineraloid with a Mohs hardness of 2–2.5 and a resinous luster, usually yellow, orange or brown.

How to identify amber →

Often confused with: Copal, Libyan Desert Glass, Opal

Kansas state symbols FAQ

What is the official state rock of Kansas?

Kansas's official state rock is Greenhorn limestone, adopted in 2018 (K.S.A. 73-3701; L. 2018, ch. 34).

What is the official state mineral of Kansas?

Kansas's official state mineral is galena, adopted in 2018 (K.S.A. 73-3801).

What is the official state gemstone of Kansas?

Kansas's official state gemstone is jelinite, adopted in 2018 (K.S.A. 73-3901).

Sources

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

Kansas Statutes § 73-3701, Official state rock — Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes (accessed 2026-10-24).
Kansas Statutes § 73-3801, Official state mineral — Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes (accessed 2026-10-23).
Kansas Statutes § 73-3901, Official state gemstone — Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes (accessed 2026-10-23).

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

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