Soapstone

A soft metamorphic rock made mostly of talc. Easy to carve and excellent at holding heat.

Soapstone specimen — Photo: Ra'ike (see also: de:Benutzer:Ra'ike), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to identify soapstone

Feels soapy or greasy.
A fingernail scratches it.
Gray to green, uniform.
Massive, not flaky.

Often confused with

Talc
Pure talc is flakier and pearly.
Compare side by side

Where it's found

Minas Gerais, Brazil
Virginia
Finland
Arctic Canada

Uses

Carving, countertops, sinks and wood stoves.

Rock tumbling

Not suitable for tumbling.

Did you know?

Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer is covered in thousands of soapstone tiles.

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