<P> Ashes of adults can be said to weigh from 876 g to 3784 g, with women's ashes generally weighing below 2750 g and men's ashes generally weighing above 1887 g . </P> <P> Not all that remains is bone . There may be melted metal lumps from missed jewellery; casket furniture; dental fillings; and surgical implants, such as hip replacements . Breast implants do not have to be removed before cremation . Large items such as titanium hip replacements (which tarnish but do not melt) or casket hinges are usually removed before processing, as they may damage the processor . (If they are missed at first, they must ultimately be removed before processing is complete, as items such as titanium joint replacements are far too durable to be ground). Implants may be returned to the family, but are more commonly sold as ferrous / non-ferrous scrap metal . After the remains are processed, smaller bits of metal such as tooth fillings, and rings (commonly known as gleanings) are sieved out and may be later interred in common, consecrated ground in a remote area of the cemetery . They may also be sold as precious metal scrap . </P> <P> Cremated remains are returned to the next of kin in different manners according to custom and country . In the United States, the cremated remains are almost always contained in a thick watertight polyethylene plastic bag contained within a hard snap - top rectangular plastic container, which is labeled with a printed paper label . The basic sealed plastic container bag may be contained within a further cardboard box or velvet sack, or they may be contained within an urn if the family had already purchased one . An official certificate of cremation prepared under the authority of the crematorium accompanies the remains, and if required by law, the permit for disposition of human remains, which must remain with the cremated remains . </P> <P> Cremated remains can be kept in an urn, stored in a special memorial building (columbarium), buried in the ground at many locations or sprinkled on a special field, mountain, or in the sea . In addition, there are several services in which the cremated remains will be scattered in a variety of ways and locations . Some examples are via a helium balloon, through fireworks, shot from shotgun shells, by boat or scattered from an aeroplane . One service sends a lipstick - tube sized sample of the cremated remains into low earth orbit, where they remain for years (but not permanently) before reentering the atmosphere . Some companies offer a service to turn part of the cremated remains into synthetic diamonds that can then be made into jewelry . Cremated remains may also be incorporated, with urn and cement, into part of an artificial reef, or they can also be mixed into paint and made into a portrait of the deceased . Some individuals use a very small amount of the remains in tattoo ink, for remembrance portraits . Cremated remains can be scattered in national parks in the United States with a special permit . They can also be scattered on private property with the permission of the owner . A portion of the cremated remains may be retained in a specially designed locket known as cremation jewelry, or even blown into special glass keepsakes and glass orbs . The cremated remains may also be entombed . Most cemeteries will grant permission for burial of cremated remains in occupied cemetery plots that have already been purchased or are in use by the families disposing of the cremated remains without any additional charge or oversight . </P>

Where was the first formal cremation in the u s carried out