Colorado's State Symbols: The State Gemstone

Because Colorado’s mountains are rich in minerals, there are many gemstones to be found in our state, but only one has the distinction of being named Colorado’s state gemstone – the aquamarine.  This light blue to green mineral was designated our state gemstone in 1971; it is found primarily at Mount Antero and White Mountain in Chaffee County.  For more about Colorado minerals, see the following Colorado Geological Survey publications, available from our library:  An Introduction to Mining & Minerals in Colorado; and Messages in Stone:  Colorado’s Colorful Geology.  See also The Minerals of Colorado and Area Locations from the Colorado Bureau of Mines.