Rhodochrosite from the Sweet Home Mine in Alma, Colorado; photo by Eric Hunt on Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution / no derivative works).
Official State Mineral of Colorado
Colorado recognized rhodochrosite as the official state mineral in 2002. All State Minerals
The world's largest rhodochrosite crystal (called the Alma King) was found in the Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado (on display at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science). Colorado's geological symbols are red (rhodochrosite), white (yule marble, the state rock), and blue (aquamarine, the state gemstone).