If you really want to understand why granite headstones in Walterboro, SC are such a popular and effective choice for burial markers, which will experience long-term exposure to the outdoor elements, then you need to know a little bit about granite and its origins.
Granite is a type of igneous rock that has very large grains, which can be easily seen without magnifying glasses. It forms as a result of an extremely slow crystallization process of magma underneath the surface of the earth. It mainly features minerals like quartz and feldspar, though also contains smaller amounts of mica, amphiboles and various other minerals. This combination of minerals results in granite having a red, gray, pink or white color, with the dark grains of minerals visible all over the rock.
While there are many other types of igneous rocks, none is as well-known as granite, mostly because it’s far and away the most common igneous rock found on the surface of the earth. Its ubiquity makes it extremely popular for use in other objects including countertops, floor tiles, paving, curbing, building veneers, stair treads and, yes, granite headstones in Walterboro, SC.
There are some famous natural exposures of granite that are beloved by people across the world and the nation, including sites in Yosemite Valley, Mount Rushmore, Pike’s Peak and the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
How is granite most commonly used?
Granite is the rock that is most often mined and quarried as what’s called a “dimension stone,” or a type of natural rock material that gets cut into slabs of a specific length, thickness and width. The primary benefits of granite are that it’s hard enough to resist abrasion, durable enough to be able to hold up large amounts of weight and inert enough to avoid many of the effects associated with weathering. In addition, it takes polish very well, with the polish doing quite a bit to enhance its appearance. All of these characteristics combine to make it an extremely useful, desirable and versatile stone.
The vast majority of granite used in applications in the United States comes from five states: Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and South Dakota. Granite continues to be used as it has been for thousands of years—in both interior and exterior building applications, and some sculpting and artistic work. You’ll find rough-cut and polished granite in buildings, paving, monuments and much more, with polished granite slabs and tiles used for many indoor applications.
While granite can be high in price, it maintains its popularity because of its beauty, prestige, uniqueness (no two pieces are the same) and durability. A good piece of granite, kept well maintained, will last a lifetime and more.
These are just some of the factors to consider when thinking about why you might choose granite headstones in Walterboro, SC. To learn more about the various benefits associated with granite in interior and exterior applications, contact the team at Steedley Monument Works today and we’ll be happy to tell you more.