Before the body goes into the oven, a stainless steel disk around the size of a quarter with a unique number is placed with it. That number is then recorded on the paperwork of the deceased. Since the disk doesn't melt, it will remain in tact with the ashes that you receive.
The colour hue is a result of the temperature of the cremation chamber. During cremation, the body is exposed to temperatures ranging from 760 to over 980 degrees Celsius or 1,400 to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. Bones need to reach a temperature higher than 800 degrees Celsius (1,472 F) to produce lighter-coloured ashes.
A box of adult human ashes can be surprisingly heavy. If you are still expecting the remains to be like that of a campfire, the weight might be unexpected. Human cremation ashes include crushed bone, which makes them denser than ash from wood and therefore heavier.
The person who has possession of the cremated remains then gets to decide what to do with the ashes. They can choose whether they would like to bury the remains, scatter the ashes or possibly keep them in their home.
No, people's remains cannot get mixed up with other people's remains in a cremation chamber. Although some people have been under the impression that two people's cremated remains can get mixed up during the Longboat Key, FL cremation process, this is never going to happen.
IDENTIFICATION DISK
Before the body goes into the oven, a stainless steel disk around the size of a quarter with a unique number is placed with it. That number is then recorded on the paperwork of the deceased. Since the disk doesn't melt, it will remain in tact with the ashes that you receive.
Cremains contain what is known as rest energy, sometimes referred to as free or dormant energy. This type of energy is still subject to the restraints of natural law, and can have no physical or spiritual impact on those around it.
Cremation Involves Lighting the Body on Fire
One of the most misguided cremation myths is that the body is set on fire. The cremation process uses flames to create extreme heat in a specially designed furnace. During the cremation process, the furnace (also called a retort) reaches temperatures around 1800° F.
You certainly can! There are several regulations governing ash spreading, but none governing ash division. Following a loved one's cremation, some families prefer to split the ashes.
Many times, the unclaimed ashes are held by the funeral home who will make multiple attempts to contact family or next of kin to pick up their loved one's remains. If they don't pick them up, different states have different rules on the length of time the funeral home must hold the ashes.
A common question that we find in the cremation diamond industry is do ashes have an expiration date? The short answer is they don't; at least not in our lifetime. It would take around one million years for ashes to dissolve since they are made solely of inorganic material.
Cremation occurs at such a hot temperature all micro-organisms are destroyed, and the remaining ashes are inert. After cremation there are no public health risks associated with handling ashes.
You may be wondering, “Does it matter whether my loved one's cremation ashes are dark or light (or green) in color?” The good news is that the ash color doesn't actually matter or change anything unless for cultural reasons. It does not affect how the crematorium treated your loved one throughout the cremation process.
During cremation, the body parts that do burn consist of organs, soft tissue, hair, and skin, while the water in our bodies evaporates. The body parts that do not burn are bone fragments. Teeth usually burn during cremation, but not entirely.
Can You Get DNA From Cremated Remains? Yes. DNA testing is often done on the bodies of the dead, even after they've been cremated. The immense heat of the cremation ovens breaks down the body's organic matter, leaving bone fragments and teeth behind as they don't disintegrate during the cremation process.
The material is not soft and fluffy like wood ashes. It's a grainier substance that is more like coarse sand. That's because it's crushed bones, along with small amounts of salts and other minerals. They range in color from a pasty white to a deep gray.
The law considers ashes to be the same as a body, so is unwilling to rule for separating them amongst different parties.
Can two people's ashes be mixed together? Yes. Mixing ashes is a common process known as “commingling.” Commingling means that the couple's cremated remains are mixed, or “mingled” together in an urn, most often a companion urn.
However, it's important to remember that the Bible does not explicitly prohibit or endorse cremation or the keeping of ashes. Ultimately, the decision of what to do with the ashes of a loved one is a personal one, and should be made based on what feels right for the family.
For family members who are concerned they will not receive their loved one after cremation, the attended cremation is an option. They are able to spend time with their loved one and then see them enter the cremation chamber.
The most significant environmental concerns with cremation are the amount of energy used and the greenhouse gases produced while the body is being cremated. Cremation releases noxious gases into the air. The by-products include fine soot, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, mercury from dental fillings, and heavy metals.
According to the first law of thermodynamics, energy can not be created or destroyed. Instead, it simply changes from one form to another. However, many believe the cremation process frees the spirit from its physical body. And so the soul energy leaves the ashes to return to nature.
Detection dogs sniff out human cremains from houses burned in wildfires. Piper, a border collie from the Institute for Canine Forensics, signals to her handler that she has found human cremains on the site of a house burned to the ground during the Carr Fire in California.
Human ashes are more like sand than fireplace ashes
Many of us are familiar with fireplace or campfire ashes. They tend to be very light and soft. If you were to touch human ashes, they would feel more coarse and sand-like than ash from wood.