Can anyone explain this type of granite headstone?

Do all tombstones have to be granite? Maybe it's just not granite?

Then, what it is? Just curious about this rock...

granite is a name given to igneous rocks of a certain texture , with its mineral makeup being quartz/potassium feldspars/and mica. (And even granites are further broken down into more specialized environment types. Youve got a rock that seems to have
1no free quartz
2a Plagioclase feldspar (like bytownite)

Id call it more of a dacite or a n anorthosite from the texture, the color I see (especially what appears to be some irridescence on the plagioclse) and the crystal sizes.

Geologists use igneous rock classifications to help them in locating resource in special thermodynamic conditions of how the rocks were emplaced. I use the specific "plagioclase" feldspars I find in "country rock" to help me when Im looking for things like Titanium ores in stream beds

I usually keep charts in my phone for detailed naming so I can communicte the rock types to colleagues and clients.(and besides "granite has become a marketing term" like CHEVY)

That type of rock is goingg to make a rather poor tombstone because it will chemically erode faster than the real granite or darker finer grain igneous rocks (like basalt or gabbro)

PS a type pof igneous rock called Anorthosite, is loaded with the mineral LABRADORITE. This mineral makes for a gemmy type rock with blue iridescence . Look up Labradorite and youll see.
Anorthosite is common along the Mine New Brunswick Border and is quarried for kitchen counter-tops ever since rock slab counters have become a cliche. The kitchen cabinet guys call everything "granite" and its all BS based on marketing.

Bert, it does appear micaceous but I'm no expert. Thanks though for making me look up its spelling

Incidentally does the '69' mean what I suppose......

Hi. Thank you for your interesting reply. The photo I shared is from an old Victorian gravestone monument dated 1894. It appeared quite smooth, but noticed few dents probably due to certain minerals erode faster than others like you said.

I had a student do a semester study on weathering from New ENgland Graveyards. It was an interesting study on chemical erosion of stuff like marbles, v igneous headstones.
She did measurements of the depth of erosion of the inscribed letters v the ages . She developed a pretty good program to assist quarrymen and stone dressers to decide upon cutting (Dont use ultra crisp corners in Marbles and High temp plagioclase feldspars).

what part of your country was the stone from?? .
The bulk stones are plagioclases (not micas) probably (now that I thought of it longer) Andesine as well as Bytownite.
Plgioclases are a solid solution with a recipe mix that varies calcium? qnd Magnesium in the silicate mix. Granites and Diorites (acidic ones) are usually absent to very low in Plagioclase but high in ALKALI FELDSPARS , like orthoclase

I'm from Newport, South Wales and the cemetery is St Woolos. Very Victorian and so much different types of granite to look at. Most granites here are k-feldspar types. This one just stood out and caught my attention because of the bulk stones being plagioclases.

Theres a fairly good geo book on SOuth and North Wales by by Garreth George. Good maps etc. Ill bet you cpuld find the rock source (If it came from in country)

Some of the best salmon I ever ate was in S Wales , cooked with fennel it was.

Thanks for the book suggestion and you're right about the Salmon. Very tasting :-)