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California's Official State Rock Can Give You Cancer

Whether you knew it or not (or even cared), California has an official state rock. It's called serpentine and it contains a mineral -- chrysotile asbestos -- that's not so good for your health. Now State Senator Gloria Romero of Los Angeles wants the title to be stripped, according to the Sacramento Bee. "California should not designate a rock known to be toxic to the health of its residents as the state's official rock," reads her legislation. SB 624, which will be heard in an Assembly Committee on Monday, would leave the state without an official rock. But as the Bee notes, there are plenty of other official whatchamacallits, such as the state grass (purple needlegrass) and the official state fossil (the saber-toothed cat).