Nelsonite is a distinctive igneous rock composed primarily of the minerals ilmenite and apatite. This speckled tan, black and white rock is found in Nelson, Amherst, and Roanoke Counties of Virginia.

What is Nelsonite used for?

While the speckled tan, black and white Nelsonite isn't sparkly, it played an important economic role in the 1900s. It was mined near Piney River and other areas as a source of titanium used in paint pigments and steel alloys, and calcium phosphate used in artificial teeth and agricultural fertilizer.

What is the state rock of Virginia?

Nelsonite was designated the official state rock of Virginia in 2016. Granite is a plutonic or igneous intrusive rock that forms by the slow cooling of trapped magma.