Hi folks!! The summer of 2000 saw me visiting several cemeteries, including one where some stones looked to have acid damage and others were discolored. I was fortunate the cemetery caretaker happened to be on the site that day. I asked about both. The discoloration was caused by the high mineral content of local water. Several years ago, the cemetery had installed a sprinkler system and now the grass is beautiful, but the stones have suffered for it. When the sprinkler system had first been installed, the caretakers had tried to prevent/remove this discoloration by spraying the stones with "The Works" (a toilet bowl cleaner) and left it for the sprinklers or rain to wash off. When the acid damage started appearing, the caretaker had consulted the local monument dealer and learned that unless this product is completely washed off, it will begin to eat the stones. My purpose to this message, is to pass on some sites I have discovered that may help others. While some of the information pertains more to preservation on a larger scale than most individuals could handle, the information regarding cleaning should apply to everyone. While I personally have never done a rubbing, I was surprised to learn (in the first link) this practice has been banned in some cemeteries. Jackie Cemetery Dos and Don'ts, provided by the Connecticut Gravestone Network http://members.aol.com/ctgravenet/dosdonts.htm Association for Gravestone Studies FAQ's http://www.gravestonestudies.org/faq.htm Indiana Pioneer Cemeteries Restoration Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~inpcrp/repairtoolbox.html from the personal genealogy home page of Kim Chance http://members.home.net/kimchance/CemeteryPreservation.html