Alabama Geological and Archaeological Symbols

ContentsAlabama State Gemstone, Alabama State Fossil, Alabama State Mineral, and Alabama State RockAlabama State Gemstone, Alabama State Fossil, Alabama State Mineral, and Alabama State Rock Alabama State Fossil Complete with detailed bone sketches and artists conceptions of what they would look like, this site is really interestingSource: State of Alabama Geological Survey Alabama State Fossil –...

Serpentine – State Rock

Serpentine rock is apple-green to black and is often mottled with light and dark colored areas. It has a shiny or wax-like appearance and slightly soapy feel. Serpentine is usually fine-grained and compact but may be granular, platy or fibrous. It’s found in central and northern California in the Coast Ranges, Klamath Mountains and Sierra Nevada foothills. Serpentine rock is primarily composed of one or more of...

Gold, California State Mineral

The accidental discovery of gold in 1848 at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma started a bonanza that brought California fame and gave it the title of the “Golden State.” The Gold Rush of 1849 and the subsequent influx of settlers led to California becoming the 31st state in 1850. NATURAL OCCURRENCES The concentration of gold ore, and the market value of gold determine whether a deposit is a mineable orebody. The...

Sabertoothed Cat – California State Fossil

SABERTOOTHED CAT CALIFORNIA STATE FOSSIL Smilodon californicus The carnivorous sabertoothed cats (extinct members of the cat family Felidae) flourished throughout North America from the late Eocene and early Oligocene (40 to 35 million years ago) until the close of the Pleistocene about 11,000 years ago. In California, the cat’s fossilized remains are most abundant at the La Brea Tar Pits (late Pleistocene) in...

Benitoite – California State Gem

Benitoite (pronounced beh-nee-tow-ite) can occur in rich blue crystals that are as striking and flawless as the finest sapphires. Gem quality benitoite is found only in a small area of San Benito County, California. It has never been found in quantity or as crystals much larger than 5 cm across. The scarcity of this beautiful gem makes it primarily a collector’s item. However, a minor amount of high quality...