• Stone is a common material for grave markers, due to its durability over time.Old Gravestone image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com
  
  A gravestone marks the location of a deceased person's burial and also serves as a memorial or commemoration to that person. The materials used to make gravestones vary according to the part of the world, age of the gravestone, and personal or family preferences. The cost of materials may also be a factor, as may the relative visual appeal of gravestone materials.
  
  

Granite

• Granite is one of the most common and traditional materials for gravestone construction. An igneous rock, granite has very high density, hardness and durability over time. Because granite is extremely hard, tools are often used in manufacturing granite gravestones. The color of granite is typically either gray or pink, with different grains and shades available. Granite is often used for gravestones, tombs and monuments.
  
  

Marble

• Marble is another relatively common material for gravestone construction. Like granite, marble is a hard and dense kind of stone. Marble may become discolored or soiled over time and its color may change from white to shades of gray through soiling. The stone also has a tendency to become increasingly yellow with time. Commercial marble material is defined as any form of lime carbonate that can be polished; limestone is technically defined as a form of commercial marble. Marble was a popular choice for gravestones manufactured in the 19th century, according to the Association for Gravestone Studies.
  
  

Slate

• Slate is a hard yet brittle material typically dark blue, gray or black in color. This smooth stone has a typically finer grain than granite when used for gravestone construction. Slate is relatively easy to work with, and holds inscriptions and carvings with clarity. However, slate has a tendency to fade over time, and the brittleness of the stone means that a slate gravestone may be relatively fragile.