I live in Singapore, where chemical weathering is dominant. What material should I use for a tombstone?

Question

Well, here's the question given to me. Choose the type of rock/mineral you will use for your own tombstone. Take into account the climatic regime of Singapore, rock susceptibility, adn toehr pertinent factors.
(Singapore is in a tropcial region near the equator, so chemical weathering is more dominant than physical weathering)

Well, here's the question. Choose the type of rock/mineral you will use for your own tombstone. Take into account the climatic regime of Singapore, rock susceptibility, adn toehr pertinent factors.
(Singapore is in a tropcial region near the equator, so chemical weathering is more dominant than physical weathering)

Answer 1

all tropical countries the weathering problem eats up / erodes tombstones - due to heat, rains and heat and now the pollution - specially the vehicle emission pollution

i managed to solve the problem for my M-I-Law's tombstone like this

I used polished granite (the one i used is CATEYES) and after the letters are engraved on it - got it covered with thick glass plate - the undertaker used some kinda of special glue to fix the glass to the stone

now its 8th year - and the tombstone still shines like new
ofcourse there are some slight scratches on the glass - but 8 years is quite good - and i can always change the glass

Answer 2

Typical choice for non-weathering monuments is granite. Most places give you the choice and will tell you which lasts longer.

Answer 3

Do your own homework choo. Start here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weathering

Answer 4

i will defiantly use polished granite. do NOT buy the granite from India. it will shutter after a while. use granite from south africa. it will last for ages.

Answer 5

I'd use limestone..I remember my geology professor saying something like that.