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Illinois

* Oh, joy…

Illinois lawmakers have delivered some sweet news for fans of pumpkin pie and corn.

Measures designating pumpkin as the official state pie and sweet corn as the state vegetable are headed to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk.

But a check of Wikipedia reveals that, unlike some other states, Illinois has no official state rock.

The horrors!

Indiana’s state rock is Salem Limestone. Why can’t we be more like Indiana???

* The Question: Your nomination for Illinois’ official state rock?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:15 pm

Comments

Grunge?!

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:15 pm
Phil

Comment by OurMagician Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:16 pm
I’d go with Classic Rock.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:17 pm
Raunerite: SuperMadigan’s one and only weakness.

Comment by Phenomynous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:17 pm
Electric?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:17 pm
I believe it would be the Dummer rock. It seems to be talked about a lot around the Capitol. I hear all the time that this or that official is Dummer than a box of rocks.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:19 pm
pyrite

Comment by Rufus Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:19 pm
Rockwell Torrey?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:19 pm
fluorite is our state mineral. close enough?

Comment by Homer J. Quinn Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:19 pm
Rufus takes an early lead!

That’ll be hard to top, man.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:20 pm
Pop Rocks?

The start out real strong, then fizzle out…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:20 pm
Schoolhouse

Comment by I'm New Here Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:21 pm
Rock Raines.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:22 pm
Coal, except technically it’s a mineral and we already have one of those.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:22 pm
Former five-term Illinois Senate President Phillip J. ROCK gets my vote!

Comment by Turn Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:23 pm
Fraggle?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:23 pm
With the new budget, ’starved’?

Comment by Stuff Happens Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:24 pm
Saint Petersburg sandstone, aka the sandstone that is used to make frack sand

Comment by Huh? Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:24 pm
Smashing Pumkins(pie)

Comment by jeffinginchicago Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:24 pm
Sorry, pyrite is a no go. It’s a mineral, and we already have one of those: fluorite.

I nominate the “erratic.”

http://isgs.illinois.edu/outreach/geology-resources/exotic-rocks-or-erratics-are-erratic

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:25 pm
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Comment by Energy, IL Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:25 pm
New Albany Shale

Comment by Judgment Day Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:25 pm
This one’s for the Sullivan Caucus: Shamrock

Also kinda fits the state’s image. Sham, get it?

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:25 pm
Jailhouse Rock.

“Clean” Coal.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:25 pm
Statehouse Rock! (instead of Schoolhouse Rock)

“I’m just a bill…”

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:26 pm
Conglomerate (easily breaks apart)

Comment by Rufus Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:26 pm
Crack! It’s the only rock that helps make sense of Springfield

Comment by Benton Bob Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:27 pm
There’s always “Lierite” - always there in a pinch.

Comment by bloval27 Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:28 pm
Rocco Fischetti (and no one gets hurt).

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:28 pm
Actually, coal isn’t a mineral, either, being created by organic matter. But it is nonetheless classified as a rock, and it also has my vote.

Comment by PolPal56 Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:28 pm
Cheap Trick

Comment by anon Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:29 pm
Dumbasaboxof

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:30 pm
cubic zirconium

Comment by northshore cynic Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:33 pm
Whatever kind of rock they break in prisons.

Comment by Curious Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:34 pm
Phil.

Comment by David Starrett Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:34 pm
Rod’s Hair

Comment by OneMan Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:34 pm
Rock of Ages

Comment by Empty Suit Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:34 pm
Sand.

Comment by Cassiopeia Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:34 pm
asphalt

Comment by OneMan Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:35 pm
Fraggel

Comment by Newdealer Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:35 pm
Pet Rock

Comment by Jorge Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:38 pm
Sandstone- it’s pretty much worthless and it crumbles under pressure

Comment by Honeybear Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:39 pm
Starved rock

Comment by foster brooks Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:40 pm
OW: coal is a rock, not a mineral, so it counts!

Huh?: “St. Peter Sandstone”

For everyone else: This book lists most of the named rock units in Illinois http://isgs.illinois.edu/publications/b095 Go to the index of units begins on page 253 of the pdf

You will find such gems as: Beaver Bend Limestone, Millersville Limestone, Nutwood Shale, and the Summum (No. 4) Coal.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:40 pm
I’m with you, OneMan!

Comment by Blago's Hare Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:41 pm
Pat Quinn

Comment by aunt_petunia Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:41 pm
The Rock across from the Hard Place.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:41 pm
Barock Obama

Comment by Old Shepherd Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:42 pm
Definitely Blagojevich. Dumb as a rock, though I supsect the average rock possesses greater moral integrity and compassion. Never met a rock that tried to shake down the CEO of a children’s hospital for fifty grand before the rock would send payment to the hospital for expenses incurred in the caring for sick children. Never met a rock that would even CONSIDER doing such a thing.

Comment by Anonymous 88 Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:42 pm
I’m thinkin: “Erratic Rocks” as that sounds about right for Illinois, especially for Springfield at this time of year.

https://www.isgs.illinois.edu/outreach/geology-resources/exotic-rocks-or-erratics-are-erratic

Comment by SextusEmpiricus Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:47 pm
A rock spray painted with the word “pensions.”

Comment by the Other Anonymous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:47 pm
Led Zepplin.

Comment by phocion Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:49 pm
BOX OF

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:50 pm
Millstone

Comment by RIO1945 Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:55 pm
Granite. After eons under intense heat and pressure, it becomes very dense and resistant to any king of change in form or content.

Is there a better representation of Illinois voters and politicians?

Comment by Arizona Bob Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:57 pm
Rock Around The Clock

Comment by walker Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:57 pm
Cement.

Search Royko: Ubi Est Mea

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:01 pm
Springfield Rock(heads)

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:02 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW9liiGyP_g

Comment by Edward the 1st Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:02 pm
Next, can we vote on the official state crock?

Comment by South of Sherman Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:02 pm
i feel the need to be pedantic.

Corn is a fruit, not a vegetable.

Comment by jerry 101 Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:03 pm
To the north in Wisconsin, the trilobite is the state fossil.
I can think of several Illinois legislators that could be nominated for state fossil

Comment by train111 Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:07 pm
That which is perched on Rauner’s neck

Comment by zonz Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:07 pm
ALT: for Illinois’ official state rock?

Rock River

Comment by zonz Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:09 pm
Schist.

We are so full of schist.

Comment by Tommydanger Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:11 pm
BVR: “The official state rock is Raunerite.”

Comment by Anon Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:13 pm
Maninoff

Comment by Deep South Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:17 pm
Legislators’ heads.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:17 pm
Silurian dolomite-think thornton quarry, also widespread fresh water aquifer in N. IL and petroleum reservoir (if lucky) in S. IL., multitasking rock ……
wait never mind this is fact based and makes too much sense, like maybe a progressive income tax, and facts and honesty related to the pensions and those pesky unions.

Comment by shakey Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:27 pm
Acid Rock

Comment by Big Joe Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:29 pm
I am torn between dolomite and REO Speedwagon.

Comment by The Colossus of Roads Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:29 pm
Mudstone: fits Springfield perfectly…

Comment by Roadbuilder Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:32 pm
Phil, of course!

Comment by PublicServant Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:32 pm
Hard.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:37 pm
Immovable rock, resistance is futile

Comment by AC Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:38 pm
Dumber than a

Comment by steve schnorf Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:39 pm
Corrupt rock, because we’ve ran out of people to label corrupt, so it’s about time we start with inanimate objects

Comment by AC Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:42 pm
Kidney Stone

Comment by Deep Yogurt Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:44 pm
Petrified corn.

Comment by Anon. Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:44 pm
Petrified

Comment by That Funky Monkey Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:45 pm
They should focus on the budget instead, because everyone knows budget paper beats rock

Comment by AC Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:47 pm
Lobster?

Comment by Soccermom Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:48 pm
The Rolling Stones?

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:49 pm
Soft rock, honoring the lack of substance

Comment by AC Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:50 pm
Rauner’s head. It may not be an *actual* rock, but it’s as hard as granite.

Comment by JoanP Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:51 pm
Vetoed rock, because the turnaround agenda hasn’t been passed

Comment by AC Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:52 pm
Is not flourite our state rock/nineral?

Comment by rock Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:52 pm
Some of the answers to this question are pure Gneiss

Comment by AC Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:56 pm
Rubble

Comment by Tommydanger Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 1:58 pm
Wackestone. Our state government fits the name.

Comment by Jake From Elwood Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:00 pm
Falling rock

Comment by AC Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:02 pm
New Salem Limestone

Comment by AC Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:03 pm
Sgt. Rock of Easy Company?

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:03 pm
Crystal Ball

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:07 pm
I didn’t say coal wasn’t a rock…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:12 pm
Hard Rock Cafe

Comment by Enviro Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:13 pm
Rolling Rock

Comment by A guy Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:27 pm
Cave-in-Rock

Comment by zatoichi Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:27 pm
Rock Stars

Comment by A guy Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:28 pm
Andrew Shaw’s head.

Comment by A guy Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:29 pm
Jerry 101. Corn is a grain, like wheat.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:29 pm
Cheap Trick

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:33 pm
…but really…erratic is the best fit.

Erratics are those boulders that get in the way when digging a foundation. They get in the way of farmers. They are decorative accessories in people’s front yards. They are very diverse in identity and origin. They include both schist and gneiss.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:39 pm
In honor of the Blues Brothers–Joliet Limestone!

Comment by Nearly Normal Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:40 pm
Cheap Trick. duh.

Comment by Filmmaker Professor Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:45 pm
Aggravate, I mean aggregate.

Comment by dupage dan Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:47 pm
Rock Island

Comment by AC Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 2:49 pm
Pop Rocks?

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 3:13 pm
As an aspirational choice: Schoolhouse

Comment by Any Mouse Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 3:18 pm
As others have pointed out in the past, in the culinary world, sweet corn, as opposed to feed corn, when it’s just right, is considered a vegetable.

And as everyone In the world knows, the best sweet corn on earth comes from DeKalb County.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 4:10 pm
Fracked

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 5:26 pm
Ballast

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 5:31 pm
Uranium

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 5:34 pm
Gravel roads

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 5:44 pm
Sandbag

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 5:47 pm
They named a pie after the governor’s dog?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 5:55 pm
corn?
I cast my vote with those who study the darned things, botanists, who say it’s a fruit

http://ucanr.edu/sites/MarinMG/files/141899.pdf

Comment by zonz Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 6:08 pm
Marble, as in, “Down to our last.”

Comment by Anon Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 6:22 pm
The one that chip’s your windshield

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 6:25 pm
Rock bottom

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 6:31 pm
Bed rock

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 6:32 pm
Slag

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 6:38 pm
Quick sand

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 6:40 pm
Madiganite

Comment by Formerpol Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 6:50 pm
Tombstone

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 7:05 pm
Hail stone

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 7:07 pm
Brimstone

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 7:08 pm
Rock river green pipestone

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 7:21 pm
Country

Comment by Soccertease Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 8:11 pm
Summum (No. 4) Coal

Comment by Mama Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 8:31 pm
Galena

Comment by Siyotanka Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 9:20 pm
Cheap Trick
or REO Speedwagon

Comment by Former IDOT GUY Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 10:33 pm
Why won’t you people give Gordy Ropp his one wish with a state soil?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kHmvkRoEowc

Comment by Archpundit Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 10:44 pm
And get with the new century sheeple…Uncle Tupelo replaced Cheap Trick and the insufferable REO Speedwagon nearly 20 years ago

Comment by Archpundit Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 10:46 pm
Buddy Guy.

Or maybe a short pour of gravel (under the asphalt).

Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 22, 15 @ 12:23 am