On Monday when I went to Powell’s grave, I noticed a few “boulder with a plaque” gravestones, the most distinctive of which was this lovely chunk of rose quartz:
Quartz is a good choice, since it’s very very very stable at Earth surface conditions, and thus will stick around a lot longer than, say, a marble tombstone. I still think I’d rather opt for a rock bearing tectonic structures or primary structures in the marker for my own final resting place, but a distinctive mineral specimen might not be a bad choice, either. What mineral would you like to have marking your grave? What’s your priority: attractiveness, longevity, or geological superlatives (weirdest P/T conditions, for instance, or rarity)?
I think that the rose quartz gravestones come primarily from only one producer (Scott Rose Quartz Quarry) in the Black Hills of South Dakota, near Custer. However, there have been a number of mines in the pegmatites of the area – from time to time they also produce some rose quartz as a coproduct to their primary product (feldspar, mica, spodumene). Ralph Waldo Emerson’s grave in Concord, Massachusetts also has a Black Hills rose quartz marker.
Likely the most lasting – none at all. Community graves (for after incineration) can be beautiful places.
Pretty cool follow-up from a former student.
This is a lovely rose quartz. The look with the plaque is sort of what we are looking for. A bit ligter so the Light can shine through though. And, we need to get it for a Massachusetts site. Do you know of anywhere up here that sells this sort of set up? Thank you. Jedd
Hi Jedd,
no, I don’t know about stone merchants in Massachusetts. good luck.
Cb
Jedd:
Pretty much any seller of grave markers will be able to procure material and make the marker for you. I listed the raw materials source above. Davis Monuments has been around a long time. They also illustrate a rose quartz marker on their website. http://www.davismonuments.com/html/monuments.html
Steve
Thanks for pointing out how a quartz headstone can last longer than a marble tombstone. My aunt passed a few days ago due to an old heart condition. She has always had a thing for flare so I think a quartz headstone like this would make her all giddy and smiley up there. http://www.pemibakermemorials.com/monuments
Condolences for your family’s loss.