Jamaica has six national symbols: the Coat of Arms; the National Flag; the National Bird (Doctor Bird); the National Tree (Blue Mahoe); the National Flower (Lignum Vitae); and the National Fruit (Ackee). These symbols relate to its national identity (the Coat of Arms and National Flag) and its biota (the National Bird) and flora (the National Tree, National Flower, and National Fruit). Prof Simon Mitchell makes a case for two more national symbols that reflect the physical aspects of the island and its remarkable geology – a National Mineral and a National Fossil.

To find out which local mineral and fossil he recommends, see: