Did you know that here at Family Memorials about 95% of all the headstones we sell are made of granite? That means we go through A LOT of granite every year!
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Jinkui Stone.
Why is granite the material of choice for nearly every monument we sell? Is granite used for anything other than gravestones? Why are there so many colors of granite? What is granite in the first place?
Well, these are the questions were going to look at in this post. Well start with a look at what granite actually is and how its formed. Then well survey the various uses we have come up with for it (its surprisingly useful) and finally look at why its the material of choice for the memorial industry. Lets go!
To begin, the word granite has its origins in the Latin granum which means grain. The Latin word is a clear reference and/or description of the granular crystalline structure that is clearly visible in any piece of granite.
We wont go into all the technical definitions regarding what percentage of the rock has to be quartz or feldspar in order for it to qualify as granite, but most granite consists mainly of quartz and feldspar and has various quantities of mica and a variety of other amphibole minerals. (If youd like to see all the technical descriptions, check out this Wikipedia article.)
Typically, the quartz and feldspar will form a tight, interlocking structure with the other minerals scattered throughout, sometimes evenly and others not so evenly. This creates a very uniform and tight composition which causes the granite to be a hard, dense, and tough natural material.
This tight crystalline structure also means water has a very difficult time penetrating into the stone making it quite durable and able to stand up to inclement weather for very long periods of time (were talking centuries and even millennia) without losing its structural integrity.
These characteristics and qualities have caused granite to be a reliable construction material for thousands of years. Nowadays its also the primary choice of material for monuments and headstones around the world. What better way to ensure your memory is captured in stone for centuries to come?
If you can remember back to your schooling days, you may recognize the general category of rock called Igneous. Granite is an igneous rock which means it was formed from cooling magma (basically underground hot lava).
In order for the crystalline structures that exist in granite to have been created, this cooling process must have happened slowly over thousands of years and at pressures only possible far beneath the earths surface.
As a result, any granite that is visible to the naked eye at or above the surface of the earth has either been pushed upward by the movement of the Earths tectonic plates or all the other stuff (sand, dirt, etc.) has eroded away leaving the granite exposed.
Believe it or not, granite is found all around the world and, in fact, most of the Earths surface has granite underneath the visible layers of sedimentary materials such as dirt, sand, and other organic materials.
Did you know that most of our worlds tallest buildings are firmly anchored to the granite located directly underneath them? In reality, how solid the granite underneath a building site is determines how tall a building can safely be.
If you look at the island of Manhattan, youll notice there are really only to areas on either end of the island where the tallest buildings exist. This isnt due to economics or land value, but rather the accessibility and quality of the granite under the island.
In the center of the island, the granite is too far underground to be used for construction, so the building heights are limited, whereas, on the ends where the granite is closer to the surface, engineers can ensure their skyscrapers will be anchored to a solid foundation and, therefore, the building heights continue to break records. For more regarding this interesting granite-related topic, check out this article.
Most mountain ranges and large rock outcroppings are actually made of granite that is being forced upward by the earths plates being pushed around. The Rocky Mountains are a great example of this. Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse are two giant sculptures located in the Black Hills of South Dakota that are literally carved or being carved into granite mountains.
Granite can come in a variety of colors from very light and dark grays to midnight black, to blue, green, red, pink, orange, and just about anything in-between. You can check out all the colors of granite we typically use on this page.
Ultimately, the wide color varieties within granite from different locations are determined by the mineral make-up of the granite in that particular geographic area.
There are some colors, such as gray and black, that can be quarried in various parts of the world and have just about the exact same colors and patterns. However, there are other colors, such as some blues and greens, that are completely unique to particular parts of the world or geologic features. For example, Norway is known around the world for the beautiful blue granite that can only be found in Norwegian granite formations.
Today granite has a plethora of uses such as construction, engineering, and cemetery headstones.
For construction, granite has been and continues to be used for buildings, bridges, paving, monuments, countertops, flooring, and more. That being said, the usage of granite for construction is not as widespread as it once was due to its high costs, especially when compared to much cheaper, man-made construction materials.
The other major use of granite around the world is for cemetery headstones and monuments.
Despite its higher costs, granite is still regularly used for projects or monuments that are seeking to convey a sense of lasting elegance, power, and prestige.
In the United States, there are five major granite producing states: South Dakota, Idaho, Massachusetts, Georgia, and New Hampshire.
Other major granite producing countries and regions around the world are India, China, Norway, Brazil, and Southern Africa. Many of these countries have specific colors they are known for.
The crystalline structure of granite means it has to be quarried with more care than some other materials. Granite cannot simply be blasted out with powerful explosions as it would simply shatter into a bunch of unusable pieces.
Granite, much like wood, has a directional grain to it. This allows the granite to be relatively easily split along the grains. This also means that if you want to make a cut against the grains, its going to take a lot of work!
If you want to learn more, please visit our website black granite tombstones and monuments.
Quarries use this grainy characteristic to their advantage by using various methods to break off large blocks of granite at a time. One method they use is to drill a series of holes along the grain of the granite and then use wedges or small explosive charges to for the granite to crack along the grain. Some quarries will also use water jets or giant band saws to do this job as well.
Once the large blocks are separated from the earth theyre transported to a shop where theyll be cut down into smaller, more manageable and ship-able sizes. The saws used to do this are typically huge circular saws with diamond tipped blades. Even with these specialized blades, making a single cut through a large block of granite can take hours and hours.
After the granite is cut down to the proper size and shape it will usually be sent to a polisher to be polished into a beautiful, glass-like surface.
As you can imagine, granite is quite heavy and, therefore, expensive to ship. Typically, granite will be cut down as small as possible before it is shipped around the world.
The cheapest and easiest way to ship granite is to load it into shipping containers and onto huge cargo ships. These ships will transport it to the receiving ports of countries around the world where it will be inspected and processed through customs. At this point, the granite will be loaded onto trains or trucks and taken to its final destinations.
There are many links in the chain of getting a piece of granite from the other side of the world to our shop in the middle of South Dakota. If were ordering a custom shape in a color that only comes from overseas, it could take as long as six months to get that piece in (and thats without any shipping delays or problems along the way).
Granite has been used for memorials and headstones for thousands of years for a reason. It has many great qualities that make it an ideal candidate for memorializing people.
Granites tight crystalline structure means it is a very hard stone. This is a good thing for a memorial that you would like to last for hundreds of years. It means that it most likely wont shatter into a million pieces if a tree branch falls on it or its tipped over by a tornado or some unruly cows that decided to break into a cemetery and use the gravestones as scratching posts (believe usthis has actually happened).
Granite is also very durable when it comes to withstanding the weather and other potentially damaging agents in the air, especially when it is polished (more on this below).
Around here we have a good number of marble and sandstone monuments from the late 19th and 20th centuries that are almost completely illegible. This is a result of the dusty South Dakota wind that is constantly beating on the surfaces of these softer stones, essentially sandblasting them.
Granite, on the other hand, has and will continue to withstand the natural elements for centuries to come and still be completely legible.
While sculpting granite isnt as easy as marble, it is often the medium of choice for outdoor pieces such as monuments for the aforementioned reasons. If youre going to spend the time and money to place a beautifully sculpted figure or carving on your monument, it only makes sense to do it in granite. Otherwise, if you choose marble, your figure may well be faceless or smoothed out by the time your grandkids or great-grandchildren are paying you a visit.
Granite can be formed into many unique and elegant shapes as well. We are constantly surprised by the creativity we are able to have when designing specialized custom monuments for the families we work with.
With the right tools, a beautiful, glassy polish can be created on any piece of granite. The polish serves to primary purposes for a cemetery monument.
Firstly, a polished surface is simply beautiful. Polish granite almost magically draws out all the color and details encased in the stones crystalline structure unexpected ways. A stones beauty and elegance are truly drawn out by a well-polished surface.
Secondly, a polished surface serves as a layer of protection to the piece of granite. It creates a barrier between the pores of the stone and the outside weather and reinforces the stones ability to withstand inclement weather and greatly lengthens the life of a monument.
Granite is an incredible natural material. Its widely available throughout the world yet is incredibly diverse in its color and makeup. It can last millennia, even in the harshest weather. It has been used in some of our most recognizable pieces of architecture, both man-made and natural.
Ultimately, it is for these reasons granite is used for cemetery headstones and memorials. At Family Memorials by Gibson, we believe that capturing our loved ones memories in granite is an elegant and beautiful way to ensure their stories will be told in stone for generations to come.
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indian black granite for headstone is a famous desire for monuments and headstones because of its durability, energy, and timeless beauty. The usage of darkish stone for commemoration functions has a protracted record in India, in which it has been applied for a clearly long term to make desire and thoughts-boggling landmarks that honor the left. This post explores the use of Indian black granite in monuments and headstones, including its sizes and design elements.
indian black granite for headstone epitomizes timeless beauty with its deep, lustrous black hue that exudes sophistication and grace. This herbal stone possesses a unique potential to transcend developments and fads, ensuring that monuments and headstones crafted from it continue to be eternally elegant. Its polished floor now not only provides a hint of refinement but also reflects mild in a way that enhances its visual allure.
The profound black color gives a great backdrop for engravings, allowing difficult info and inscriptions to stand out prominently. The versatility of Indian black granite permits artisans to create tricky designs, problematic lettering, and culturally large motifs, enabling a personalized touch to memorial systems. Furthermore, its enduring beauty ensures that the tribute to a loved one stays dignified and elegant decades or even centuries after its set up. This enduring aesthetic attraction makes Indian black granite a preferred choice, taking pictures of the essence of cherished recollections even as honoring the legacy of the departed in a certainly timeless way.
Indian black granite stands proud as a tremendous choice for monuments and headstones due to its remarkable sturdiness. Formed over thousands and thousands of years below excessive pressure and heat, this herbal stone is quite proof against put-on, weathering, and corrosion. Its robust nature permits monuments and headstones to withstand the pains of time and numerous environmental elements, making sure that the recollections they commemorate bear for generations.
Unlike softer substances, Indian black granite does not succumb to erosion, preserving its structural integrity and aesthetic enchantment even in harsh climates. This sturdiness is crucial for retaining the legacies of loved ones, presenting households with peace of mind that the memorial will continue to be intact and dignified over time. The enduring energy of Indian black granite makes it a long-lasting image of remembrance, standing resilient against the tests of time and nature.
Indian black granite holds titanic cultural significance and lifestyle, making it a famous desire for monuments and headstones around the sector. Its deep black shade symbolizes strength, eternity, and immortality in many cultures, making it a fitting preference to commemorate the departed. In the Indian way of life, black granite is related to the powerful Hindu goddess Kali, representing time, alternate, and final fact. Using this stone will pay homage to those historical beliefs and connect the departed with spiritual roots.
Moreover, India has a wealthy historical past of stone carving and craftsmanship relationship lower back centuries. Skilled artisans craft difficult designs on Indian black granite, including a touch of artistry to the memorials. The durability of this stone additionally plays a considerable function; it is able to withstand harsh climate conditions, ensuring the sturdiness of the monuments. Families pick out Indian black granite now not only for its aesthetic enchantment but also for its capacity to face the check of time, keeping the memory of their loved ones for generations. Thus, the usage of Indian black granite for monuments and headstones reflects a deep recognition of tradition, cultural symbolism, and a choice for an enduring tribute to the departed souls.
Indian black granite offers remarkable flexibility with regard to customization. Skilled artisans can precisely engrave intricate designs, significant symbols, and heartfelt messages onto the surface of the granite. Whether it is a religious image, a favorite quote, or a customized painting, Indian black granite gives a smooth canvas for innovative expression. Families can work closely with craftsmen to lay out a unique memorial that actually captures the essence of the departed soul. This potential to customize the monument or gravestone ensures that it turns into a deeply significant tribute, reflecting the uniqueness and persona of the individual being remembered.
In a generation where environmental attention is paramount, Indian black granite sticks out as a green choice. Granite is an herbal stone shaped over hundreds of thousands of years via geological procedures. Unlike artificial substances, granite no longer releases dangerous chemical compounds or pollution into the environment. Moreover, the quarrying and processing of granite in India have emerged as more environmentally sustainable, with accountable mining practices and waste management systems in the vicinity. By choosing Indian black granite, families can make contributions to environmental conservation while developing a lasting memorial for their loved ones.
Indian black granite gives an excellent blend of aesthetic enchantment, durability, cultural importance, customization alternatives, and sustainability, making it a perfect preference for monuments and headstones. Its capability to endure the check of time, coupled with its profound cultural history, ensures that each memorial made from indian black granite for headstone will become a symbol of remembrance and reverence. By selecting this super cloth, households can create enduring tributes that now not only honor the departed but also stand as testaments to the iconic beauty of Indian craftsmanship and culture.
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