Nebraska State Rock & Gem: Prairie agate, Blue chalcedony (blue agate)

Nebraska's state rock is prairie agate, adopted in 1967. Nebraska's state gemstone is blue chalcedony (blue agate), adopted in 1967. Nebraska's state fossil is the mammoth, adopted in 1967.

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

Agate specimen — Agate (not necessarily from Nebraska). Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

State rock: Prairie agate

Adopted:: 1967
Law:: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 90-110
Variety:: prairie agate

It is a variety of agate. Agate is a mineral (SiO₂) with a Mohs hardness of 6.5–7 and a waxy to vitreous luster, usually red, orange, white, gray, brown or blue.

How to identify agate →

Often confused with: Blue Lace Agate, Carnelian, Chalcedony

Also an official symbol of: Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, South Dakota, Tennessee

Chalcedony specimen — Chalcedony (not necessarily from Nebraska). Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

State gemstone: Blue chalcedony (blue agate)

Adopted:: 1967
Variety:: blue chalcedony

It is a variety of chalcedony. Chalcedony is a mineral (SiO₂) with a Mohs hardness of 6.5–7 and a waxy luster, usually blue, white or gray.

How to identify chalcedony →

Often confused with: Agate, Blue Lace Agate, Grape Agate

Also an official symbol of: Florida, West Virginia

State fossil: Mammoth

Adopted:: 1967

Nebraska state symbols FAQ

What is the state rock of Nebraska?

Nebraska's state rock is prairie agate, adopted in 1967 (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 90-110).

What is the state gemstone of Nebraska?

Nebraska's state gemstone is blue chalcedony (blue agate), adopted in 1967.

What is the state fossil of Nebraska?

Nebraska's state fossil is the mammoth, adopted in 1967.

Sources

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

Nebraska Revised Statutes § 90-110, State rock — Nebraska Legislature (accessed 2026-10-24).
State Symbols — Nebraska Secretary of State (accessed 2026-10-24).

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

Think you could spot these from a blurry close-up?

Play today's Rocksday