Materials
Materials
All natural materials used in the production of memorials have variations within the original quarried slab. Colour names can be misleading and are only given as a general guide.
Granites
These are the hardest materials and cover all igneous stones. Colours range from black to light grey, pink to red, blue and green. Some have a pearl effect which when polished show the mica within the rock.
Marble
Carrara is the usual marble used for memorials. Marble is generally white and has
a blue grey vein. As it weathers it turns grey and becomes sugary, due to surface erosion.
Finishes: All types except polishing
Limestone
The material is formed under water and contains shells, as in Portland stone. The colour ranges from cream to beige.
Nabresina
Nabresina is more dense and finer grained than many British Stones. It is cream in colour with a small brown fleck.
Finishes: All types except polishing
Sandstone
Silica stones, such as York, can be harder and more durable than limestone. The colours vary from sandy to grey.
Finishes: Fine rubbed, tooled or pitched.
Slate
Chemically similar to clay, this material is compressed into laminated form and is very strong. It can be split or sawn into thin slabs. It is usually blue/black or green.
Finishes: Fine honed or Riven - split through the lamination or machine cut.