Interesting tidbits, as taught to me by a friend in Spokane, WA (on the border of Idaho)

Clarkia, a small town in Shoshone County in northern Idaho is the only place you can dig for star garnets outside of India!  The star garnet is the Idaho state gemstone and comes in many different shades.  Star garnets get their name from a rare characteristic that causes them to display a reflection like a star. (http://www.fs.fed.us)



(image credit: www.stewartsgemshopinc.com)