What is Soapstone?

Soapstone is made up of mineral deposits created by nature and quarried from the earth. The main mineral components in soapstone include talc, chlorite, dolomite and magnetite, giving a warm, soft feeling to the touch.  more

Soapstone is a natural stone that is made up primarily of magnesite, dolomite, chlorite and talc. It is very smooth and soft to the touch and has a "soapy" texture to it, hence its name. Soapstone is quite old (300 to 400 million years!) and is extremely durable and beautiful. It is also very dense which makes it highly resistant to alkalis and acids. Consequently, it is non-porous and nearly impossible to stain!  more

Although Soapstone comes from all over the world, it is primarily derived from Brazil, China, and India. Some Soapstone comes from Australia, Canada, and Germany as well. Each area has its own unique beauty and colors. Soapstone, which on the hardness scale is rated at one, compared to a diamond, which is ten, is nonetheless quite hard. It is also non-porous so it will not stain, like granite or marble. Water can not penetrate it, nor will it tear apart from freezing. Quarried like Granite and Marble, Soapstone is a steatite stone, with its primary components being magnetite, dolomite, chlorite, and talc. It ranges in age from 300 to 400 million years old. True Soapstone is inert. Alkalis and acids, which affect granite, marble, and slate, do not affect Soapstone. HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOUR SOAPSTONE IS REAL? To determine if the piece that you have in your collection is true Soapstone, and not resin made from a casting mold there are two simple tests that you can conduct. To determine ...  more

Soapstone is a metamorphic rock. There are two different materials popularly called soapstone. The first being Talc, the softest mineral on earth, mostly used in the manufacturing of cosmetics, refractory materials, sculptures, and everyday items such as toothpaste, baby powder and even chewing gum. What we manufacture at M. Teixeira Soapstone is an alternate material known as steatite. The rock steatite (also called soapstone) is the material we use for our countertops, sinks, masonry heaters, flooring, and many other architectural applications. Steatite was also used to "coat" the famous "Christ the Redeemer" statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Steatite is composed of several minerals, but the most abundant is talc. Steatite, because of its additives, is harder than talc, and hence suitable for the applications cited above. Soapstone (steatite) in its initial state only comes in shades of gray, unlike talc, which is available in a variety of colors. This naturally quarried stone is ...  more

Soapstone is a metamorphic rock. It is primarily made of talc, which gives its silky "soapy" feel. It also contains varying amounts of chlorite, magnetite, mica, tremolite, quartz, and iron compounds. Although soapstone is resistant to heat and acids, it is very easily cut with a knife which is a consideration when choosing a kitchen countertop material. Soapstone is gray or green with a smooth matte finish.

Soapstone is a variety of stone found in the talc family (see hardness scale above). It must have mineral oil treatments and scratches easily.

Soapstone is the common name for the mineral steatite. Steatite is at least 50% talc combined with other minerals, mostly magnesite, that have been geologically metamorphosed into stone through a combination of heat, pressure and time. It is called soapstone because the talc gives the stone a soapy feel.  more

Soapstone is soft and warm to the touch. It's smooth, slippery, and silky. This stone is a traditional and old fashioned natural stone. The look is warm and inviting.  more