Glowing Crystals to Ancient Forests: The State Gemstones of Oregon and Washington

By Robert Matsumura, Contributing Writer

If asked what the official gemstone of their state is, there’s a good chance that many residents of Oregon and Washington might respond with a blank stare. While the official state mammals are more commonly known—the Beaver for Oregon and the Olympic Marmot for Washington—the official state gemstone is a bit more obscure. Despite the obscurity of this knowledge, each of the  state’s gemstones has a tale to tell in the natural history of their respective state.

In a state that rains so much, it might seem odd that Oregon chose a gemstone named for the sun to represent it. However, so beautiful and unique is the sunstone that the state legislature voted it the official state gemstone in 1987. While the indigenous peoples of Southeastern Oregon— primarily the Northern Paiute and Modoc tribes—used sunstones ritualistically and for trade,  for centuries, the stone did not come into the contemporary consciousness of most Oregonians until the late twentieth century. Oregon sunstone is found primarily in Harney County and Lake County north of the town of Plush. 

For those curious as to what exactly a sunstone is, geologically speaking, sunstone is a member of the labradorite family, and is referred to by some as red labradorite. While sunstones are present at other locations around the world such as Norway, India and Ethiopia, to name a few, only in Oregon are sunstones of fine gemstone-quality found. Oregon sunstone is never altered through heat, irradiation or artificial colors, as many gemstones are. It is always left in its natural state. The unique geological stew that formed Oregon’s physical landscape resulted in copper being part of the mineral composition of our state’s sunstones—creating stunning visual effects/colors in comparison to sunstones in other regions of the world which contain iron instead.

Pick up and examine a sunstone and you may notice their ability to shine from within. This effect derives from the millions of microscopic copper platelets referred to as schiller. While red and blue-green are the most common colors associated with sunstones, they sometimes are found in other spectacular hues such as pink, salmon, champagne, orange and even clear. Today, jewelers cut and polish sunstones of all sizes to create stunning jewelry that command substantial prices around the world.

After being declared Oregon’s official gemstone, subsequent marketing efforts by companies with mining claims helped drive interest in prospecting for sunstones. While hardcore rockhounds have actually set up shop out in the Plush area, staking claims to pursue their passion for this unique gem, there are opportunities for the public to partake in prospecting for sunstones. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has a designated location called the “Sunstone Collection Area,” located in the remote Rabbit Basin where public prospecting is allowed. If you head out to this area to hunt sunstones, be aware of the triangular BLM signs on wooden posts that mark the boundaries of the public area. Prospecting beyond the designated boundaries can lead to fines, should you be caught digging on privately held land. There are also established companies in the area such as Spectrum Sunstone Mine, where for a fee, you can scoop up sunstone-rich ore by the shovel-load and sift through it on screens to filter away the dirt. 

In 1975 the state of Washington proclaimed petrified wood as the its official gem. The geologic process by which wood is petrified occurred over a tremendous span of time and stretches back to area’s prehistoric past. Approximately 17 million years ago, lava began pouring out from fissures in the Earth’s crust at numerous locations in the Pacific Northwest. These slow moving flows continued for around 11 million years, and in the process engulfed trees, forming a literal cast around them as the lava cooled. As the years passed, the decomposed wood was replaced by minerals such as silica, pyrite, opal and calcite. These minerals worked to preserve the wood’s original texture and structure. 

To experience an actual petrified forest, visit the Gingko Petrified Forest State Park in Vantage, WA. Unlike many petrified forests which were covered in lava, the Gingko Petrified Forest was believed to be submerged in water which preserved the trees and imbedded them in basalt. Discovered in 1932, this amazing park features displays of over thirty varieties of petrified wood. In addition, there is the Trees of Stone interpretive trail with more than twenty petrified logs still in their original spots.

Places to find petrified wood in Washington include Damon Point at Ocean Shores, Saddle Mountain in Grant County, and Umtanum Creek, located in the canyon between Yakima and Ellensberg. These locations, while plentiful in petrified wood, aren’t the only places in Washington for rockhounds to prospect for their state gem. In general, specimens can be found along many riverbeds throughout the state.

If you’re a rockhound in either Oregon or Washington, both are wonderfully rich in collectible gems and minerals. Whether you wish to find your very own sunstone, and have it polished for your collection— potentially for a piece of jewelry—or desire to discover a petrified wood specimen and marvel at this natural wonder wrought by volcanic forces millions of years ago,  you’re in luck. Kids will also enjoy the adventure of prospecting, and hunting for these spectacular gemstones can be a rewarding experience for the entire family.

Both sunstones and petrified wood remind of us of the rich geologic history of the Pacific Northwest, and should you have the opportunity to examine either up close, it’s hard not to marvel at these natural treasures that have earned the distinction of being our states’ official gemstones.