Alaskan Gems. A Guide to the State’s Iconic Gems
Alaska is a land of unmatched natural beauty and richness. This rugged wilderness in the far north contains a diversity of landscapes and ecosystems, from icy glaciers to dense forests to volcanoes and tundra. Alaska’s natural resources have been a draw for people for thousands of years, long before it officially became a U.S. territory in 1867. One appeal has always been the variety of gems and minerals that can be found across Alaska’s vast expanse.
What gems are found in Alaska?
In terms of gemstones, some of the most notable finds in Alaska have included aquamarine, jade, opal, and garnet. The gold rushes brought waves of prospectors and miners hoping to strike it rich by panning for gold and precious stones in places like Nome and Fairbanks starting in the late 1800s. While many left disappointed, some made exciting gemstone discoveries that hinted at Alaska’s mineral potential. Aquamarines were first discovered in 1910 near Mount McKinley (now Denali National Park), kickstarting further exploration efforts across Alaska’s rugged interior in search of buried gem treasure.
What gems can be found in Alaska?
In addition to aquamarine, other popular gemstones found in Alaska include:
Jade – Jade occurrences have been documented predominantly in northwest and southeast Alaska. Jade is found in a diversity of colors and patterns, from deep emerald greens to unusual lavender hues. Nephrite jade is the official state gemstone.
Opal – Precious opal comes in vibrant colors like fiery red-orange and has been discovered in Alaska’s rugged and remote frontiers. More common occurrences are of white or cream opal.
Garnet – From deep red to rich green, many garnet varieties exist in Alaska, like rhodolite and demantoid garnet. Large garnet crystals have been mined from sites like the Red Mountain deposit near Juneau.
In terms of other colored gemstones, various types of agates, quartz, petrified wood, amber, and fossils containing agatized coral are also found across Alaska. Gold and diamonds also occasional turn up, exciting both professional and amateur prospectors. Alaska’s gems tells stories of the state’s ancient natural history, with minerals forming under extreme pressures or preserving ancient life.
What is Alaska’s state gem?
Out of its many gems, one stands out as a signature of the state – jade. Jade has a long history in Alaska and has been prized by its indigenous peoples for thousands of years. Native Alaskan cultures like the Tlingit carved precious jade into decorative and ceremonial objects like weapons, tools, figurines, and more. The earliest record of jade in Alaska dates back over 5,000 years ago. Jade tools fashioned by early Alaska Natives have been uncovered from multiple archaeological sites.
Besides its cultural significance, jade holds meaning geologically as the official state gem. Alaska formally adopted jade as its state gemstone in 1968. The specific type designated is nephrite jade, a variety ranging in color from white to deep green. Nephrite jade deposits have been found in southeast and northwest Alaska. Alaska’s jade can exhibit incredible colors and patterns, like a deep emerald green stone with veins of white passing through it.
What is the state gem of Alaska?
To summarize, the state gem of Alaska is nephrite jade, a variety of mineral jade found across Alaska in signature green hues. This ice-like stone has special meaning, known as “the stone of heaven” and holding a prominent place in Alaskan native cultures for thousands of years before European settlement. Beyond its cultural significance, nephrite jade is also geologically important as Alaska’s official state gemstone. The Alaska legislature adopted this green mineral as the state gem back in 1968 to represent the state’s natural beauty, history, and mineral riches that continue to draw prospectors and adventurers today like a modern day gold rush. Whether carved into traditional tools, made into jewelry, or dug right out of the earth, Alaska’s jade tells a captivating story of this northern land.
