A ‘chrometastic’ finish for one state symbol bill

by Bryan P. Sears, Maryland Matters
May 14, 2025

A rainy Tuesday in Annapolis did little to dampen the spirits of 18-year-old David Shore. One might even say he had a “chrometastic” day.

Shore, the young mineral enthusiast who is known to sign emails “chrometastically yours,” traveled to the State House for the signing of a law designating chromite as the state’s official mineral, one of 171 measures signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Wes Moore (D).

“I’m elated,” Shore said moments before Moore signed the bill. “It took about half my life to get this bill through. I’m glad that a story of American success is being commemorated in Maryland with this bill.”

The ceremony brings to a close a nearly decade-long effort for Shore, who first testified in support of a similar bill in 2017.

Shore at the time was 10 and had his own lobbyist. Ashlie Bagwell, a lobbyist with Harris Jones & Malone, reunited with Shore and Sen. Craig Zucker (D-Montgomery), sponsor of the 2017 bill, for this year’s efforts. House Environment and Transportation Committee Chair Marc Korman (D-Montgomery) sponsored the House bill.

On Tuesday, Moore signed both the House bill, adding chromite to the official list of state symbols, and the Senate bill, which was amended to make Orange Crush the official state cocktail, along with chromite as the state mineral. The new law takes effect June 1.

“It was one of the bright spots of a tough session with everything that was going on at the federal level,” Zucker said of the bill’s passage. “It was a really hard session.”

When processed, chromite is a gritty, metallic charcoal-colored substance that is used in metal alloys, heat resistant materials and pigments. The mineral was first discovered in the Bare Hills area of Baltimore County in 1808 by Isaac Tyson Jr. Deposits were also found in Baltimore City and in Carroll, Cecil, Harford, Howard and Montgomery counties.

Tyson founded Baltimore Chrome Works. The plant was the first in the nation to manufacture chromium chemicals. The products were used in paints and in metal alloys including stainless steel.

The mineral was exported out of Fells Point. Deposits in the region produced most of the world supply of the mineral until the 1850s. South Africa is currently the world’s largest producer of the mineral.

Shore’s effort caught the attention of Tyson descendant Hannah Tyson Lee Byron, who attended the bill signing alongside Shore.

“I’m very proud of our Tyson family history, and to see my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather recognized for his discovery of chromite and the importance it played in Maryland and throughout the country and the world,” Byron said.

Chromite continues to be mined, though no longer in Maryland. But evidence of its past importance to the region remains in the names of many thoroughfares in Maryland,  like Chrome Road in Cecil County and Chrome Mine Road in Montgomery County. Abandoned mines can be found in some state parks including Soldiers Delight in Baltimore County.

Shore borrowed samples from Soldiers Delight Conservation Inc. to bring to the signing ceremony. Those samples get returned Wednesday, when the conservation group is scheduled to hold a small reception to congratulate Shore.

Chromite was not alone as it moved to the list of official state symbols.

Thanks to some 11th hour legislative shenanigans, the House tacked on the amendment to Zucker’s version of the bill that added Orange Crush as the official state cocktail. The language was not present in Korman’s bill, which passed earlier.

The cocktail was the subject of its own House and Senate bills that seemed destined for failure in the 2025 session. The late change is the latest volley in a squabble with Delaware over the origins of the drink.

The First State named the gin-based drink its official state cocktail last year despite its origins in the Free State.

Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) said the House and Senate “eventually … had a number of conversations about moving forward, about how can we make this session and find some things that everyone’s going to really be proud of and take back from Delaware what was rightfully ours from the beginning.”

Chromite and the Orange Crush will join 24 official state symbols. The list includes both a state sport and team sport, a state dinosaur, dog and cat, and crustacean, among others.

The last state symbol added was rye whiskey in 2023. It was the first time in 15 years that a new state symbol made the list. In 2008, the legislature approved an official state exercise (walking) and official dessert (the Smith Island cake).

Maryland Matters is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Maryland Matters maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: editor@marylandmatters.org.