Physical erosion is the natural degradation of the rock through wind, rain, etc, as well as through freeze/thaw cycles. Biological erosion details the effects of trees, shrubs, lichens, and vines of the rock, which can lead to damage to the surface and body of the gravestones.
Q. What Does a coin on a gravestone mean?
A coin left on a headstone lets the deceased soldier’s family know that somebody stopped by to pay their respects. If you leave a penny, it means you visited. If you served with the soldier, you leave a dime. A quarter is very significant because it means that you were there when that soldier was killed.
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Q. What do teeth on graves mean?
This is extracted from the Urban dictionary : Usually occuring in older members of society, “Tombstone teeth” is a derogatory term used to describe a mouth consisting mainly of tongue and gums. Maybe, one or two teeth will stand out but no more than that. This makes me think of « sourire édenté ».
Q. What happens when rainwater weathers the gravestone?
Minerals in rocks may react with the rainwater, causing the rock to be weathered. When acidic rainwater falls on limestone or chalk, a chemical reaction happens. New, soluble, substances are formed in the reaction. These dissolve in the water, and then are washed away, weathering the rock.
Q. What stone are gravestones made from?
Most gravestones made over the last few centuries are made of a few types of rock: marble, slate, and granite are the big three. Sometimes you run into darker stones made of gabbro, maybe a few sandstone markers, but especially in more recent monuments, marble and granite (and other plutonic rocks) rule the roost.
Q. How do you clean granite headstones?
Cleaning Granite Memorial Stones
- The safest way to clean a headstone is to use natural clean water or distilled water.
- Using a bucket and lots of water, keep the stone wet through the entire washing process.
- In order to clean a polished or honed granite memorial stone, wash it well with a soft, damp cloth.
