Mississippi Opal from the Mississippi State Board of Registered Geologists
Official State Gemstone of Mississippi
On March 3rd, 2023, Mississippi designated the Mississippi Opal as the official state gemstone. The bill was signed by Governor Tate Reeves. Governor Reeves said, "The green Mississippi Opal is as beautiful as our state and it will be an excellent representation of our unique geological history".
The Mississippi Opal was formed by volcanic ash. It was discovered in Claiborne County by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. Geologist James Starnes is credited with discovering the Mississippi Opal in 2004