Romero is rolling against state rock (July 23)
By Chuck Doud
The Madera Tribune
Sen. Gloria Romero, the Los Angeles Democrat who wants to strip serpentine’s status as our state rock, no doubt means well. But she probably doesn’t know how foolish the bill makes her look.
Her reasoning is that serpentine in some cases contains asbestos. When that type of serpentine is crushed, she asserts, it can cause health problems.
But let’s examine this. Will removing serpentine as the state rock remove its asbestos? Uh … probably not.
In fact, did you know the state had a state rock? I didn’t. Does that designation somehow confer value on the rock?
It may have been chosen state rock because of its beauty. According to Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, serpentine is often used in jewelry because it has a sparkle to it.
It is said to be made up largely of magnesium iron phyllosilicate minerals, and may contain small amounts of chromium, manganese, cobalt and nickel. It also is distinguished by three important mineral polymorphs: antigorite, chrysotile and lizardite. It has low levels of phosphorus, potassium and magnesium.
Soils made of serpentine are toxic to many plants, Wikipedia says, because of high levels of nickel, chromium and cobalt. When it is polished, it tends to resemble jade, and is often mistaken for it.
Serpentine also is often used as railroad ballast and building material — even polished and used in serpentine marble. And when it contains traces of asbestos, it can be used as thermal and electrical insulation.
It also absorbs carbon dioxide and re-releases oxygen into the atmosphere. Hooray!
Well, there you are: The state rock isn’t a rock so much as it is a collection of minerals having many uses. Should it have been called a rock at all, especially a state rock?
But that is beside the point. Defrocking it won’t change the fact it has been in use for thousands of years, and probably will continue to be so. Rock on, serpentine.
