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State Symbols

The official state symbols represent the cultural heritage and natural treasures of each state or the entire United States

Nebraska Symbols

Nebraska State Rock

Prairie Agate

(SiO₂ - Silicon Dioxide)

Adopted on March 1, 1967.

The Prairie Agate became the state rock on March 1, 1967 (Nebraska's Centennial).

Agate is a semiprecious stone, and Nebraska has an abundance of it, especially in the Oglala National Grassland. Prairie Agate, the Nebraska State Rock, is found in about the same areas as Fairburn Agate. Prairie Agate does not have the fine banding that characterizes Fairburn Agates, but it can be transformed into very fine cabochons (an unfaceted cut gemstone of domed or convex form). Agate is a variegated quartz noted for its layered varieties. In most specimens, the bands are very coarse and differ in color and translucency, as well as in compactness and porosity. The prairie agate, distinguished from most other agates because it seldom has these bands, is still colorful, has a rounded irregular shape and is popular for jewelry.

Revised Statues - Chapter 90 Special Acts
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90-110: State rock; prairie agate.

The chalcedony stone, commonly known as prairie agate, is hereby declared the state rock of Nebraska.

General Quartz Information
Chemical Formula	SiO₂
Composition	Molecular Weight = 60.08 gm
	Silicon 46.74 % Si 100.00 % SiO₂
	Oxygen 53.26 % O
	______
	100.00 %
Empirical Formula	(SiO₂)
Environment	Sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks.
IMA Status	Approved IMA 1962
Locality	Found world wide
Name Origin	From the German "quarz", of uncertain origin

State Symbols

State symbols represent things that are special to a particular state.

symbol \ˈsim-bəl\
noun

Etymology:
in sense 1, from Late Latin symbolum, from Late Greek symbolon, from Greek, token, sign; in other senses from Latin symbolum token, sign, symbol, from Greek symbolon, literally, token of identity verified by comparing its other half, from symballein to throw together, compare, from syn- + ballein to throw — more at devil
Date: 15th century

1: Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible.

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Nebraska Symbols

Nebraska State Rock

Prairie Agate

(SiO2 - Silicon Dioxide)

Adopted on March 1, 1967.

General Quartz Information

(SiO₂ - Silicon Dioxide)