What Minerals Are In South Carolina Blue Granite

Blue granite a light blue or gray colored igneous stone became the official stone of south carolina when house bill no.
What minerals are in south carolina blue granite. Minerals are classified based on characteristics such as hardness and crystal shape e g hexagonal cubic. For example the purple variety of quartz is called amethyst and is the state mineral of south carolina. It forms from the slow crystallization of magma below earth s surface. South carolina s granite quarries located primarily in the piedmont region mine this rock for use in building and road construction.
Florida s state gem moonstone was adopted to highlight florida s role in the united states lunar program which landed the first astronauts on the moon. South carolina state stone blue granite adopted on june 24 1969. Quartz is the most common mineral in the earth s crust. However the darker minerals in the rock exhibit a blue hue when polished.
An example is quartz silicon dioxide sio 2. When the bill designating this symbol was passed in 1969 legislators declared that it had been used to beautify all areas of south carolina and was thus the most appropriate choice. Blue granite 1969 amethyst 1969 south dakota. Granite is composed mainly of quartz and feldspar with minor amounts of mica amphiboles and other minerals this mineral composition usually gives granite a red pink gray or white color with dark mineral.
H1808 also named the amethyst the official gem stone of south carolina. Granite is a light colored igneous rock with grains large enough to be visible with the unaided eye. Blue granite is fast becoming a popular granite color choice for kitchens by many homeowners and designers. South carolina is one of the u s s top producers of granite.
South carolina designated blue granite as the official state stone in 1969. The winnsboro blue granite is actually a gray colored granite. 1808 h1808 was signed by governor robert mcnair on june 24 1969. This stone was originally quarried at the anderson granite quarry west of the town of winnsboro in fairfield county during the 1800 s.
From the reflective flashes of blue minerals embedded in dark granite to the cool waves of light blue quartzite there are few choices more exotic or more likely to spark a conversation in the kitchen. South carolina is one of the largest producers of granite in the united states. Blue granite is actually gray colored granite but can exhibit a blue hue when it is polished. The state rock of south carolina is the winnsboro blue granite.
The south carolina state rock is blue granite. Granite is one of the most abundant igneous rocks.