Kentucky State Rock

Fortification (Kentucky) Agate

(SiO₂)

Adopted on July 14, 2000.

Fortification Agate with red, black and yellow banding became Kentucky's Official State Rock in the year 2000.

These sharp-angled bands resemble the outlines of fortifications of a castle.

This might be confusing, because scientifically agate is considered a variety of the mineral quartz. Minerals are the building blocks of rocks. Agate is considered both a mineral (cryptocrystalline quartz) and a rock, and is formed by chemical precipitation from silica-rich solution in rock cavities. Often characterized by bands of spectacular colors, agate with bright red bands of color found in Kentucky is prized by collectors, and is called Kentucky Agate.

Although rocks are generally thought of as sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous types, collectors and hobbyists call varieties of some minerals rocks as well. Quartz has many varieties. Naturally occurring chemical impurities in the quartz can cause it to be colored. When different impurities occur in bands within quartz, the quartz will have a colorful, banded appearance, and it is then called agate.

Statute

2.091 State rock.
Kentucky agate is named and designated as the official rock of Kentucky.
Effective: July 14, 2000

History: Created 2000 Ky. Acts ch. 146, sec. 1, effective July 14, 2000.

House Bill 123

(BR 318) - J. Bowling, J. Adams, R. Adkins, S. Alexander, J. Arnold Jr., A. Arnold, B. Ausmus, III, E. Ballard, S. Baugh, C. Belcher, L. Belcher, I. Branham, K. Bratcher, B. Buckingham, T. Burch, De. Butler, Dw. Butler, J. Callahan, P. Childers, L. Clark, B. Colter, J. Crenshaw, R. Damron, B. DeWeese, J. Draud, J. Fischer, J. Gooch, G. Graham, J. Gray, B. Heleringer, C. Hoffman, J. Hoover, D. Horlander, S. Johns, E. Jordan, M. Marzian, T. McKee, C. Miller, L. Napier, F. Nesler, R. Palmer, R. Palumbo, M. Rader, T. Riner, A. Simpson, J. Stacy, K. Stein, G. Tapp, R. Thomas, M. Treesh, J. Turner, K. Upchurch, C. Walton, J. Wayne, M. Weaver, R. Wilkey, P. Worthington, B. Yonts

AN ACT relating to the designation of the official rock of Kentucky.

WHEREAS, the colorful rock, Kentucky agate, bears the name of this great Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, this beautiful Kentucky resource, characterized by delicate bands of blue, red, orange, black, yellow, or gray shades, is often displayed at local rock shows and used as an ornamental material and in semiprecious jewelry; and

WHEREAS, designation of a state rock will promote interest in geology, the hobby of mineral collecting, and the lapidary arts;

NOW, THEREFORE,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 2 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

Kentucky agate is named and designated as the official rock of Kentucky.

Signed by the Governor on March 23, 2000