(RALEIGH) -- North Carolina may be going for the gold.  The Tar Heel State holds a firm place in American history when it comes to the precious metal and them General Assembly may ultimately recognize that fact.

The State Senate voted Monday night to make gold the official state mineral. Bill sponsor Sen. Harry Brown said the first authenticated discovery of gold in the United States occurred in North Carolina in 1799.

"North Carolina became the nation's first gold producing state and was the only gold producing state from 1803 until 1828. North Carolina was the leading producer of gold until 1848 when gold was discovered in California," said Brown.

Brown, who is from Onslow County, said the idea for the bill came from fourth-graders in his district. "I spoke to them and went through the process of how bills are created in the General Assembly and I guess they took my little lesson to heart and I got an email a couple of weeks later from the teacher," said Brown.

The bill was approved 46-4 and now goes to the House.