Nebraska State Rock

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.