Where to find soapstone

Quarries in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts are considered the most likely source for soapstone artifacts found on the east coast of the USA. Contemporary uses of soapstone are often in industrial and technical areas. Although it is only one on the hardness scale, compared with 10 for diamond, it is still quite hard, combining softness with solidity.

It is used in construction as an insulator and is experiencing a revival as a material for countertops. Its natural properties enhance its usefulness in the kitchen, being durable, resilient to heat, scratches and impacts.

It is naturally stain resistant because it is chemically inert and therefore unaffected by both alkalies and acids. The Romans used soapstone found near Lake Como to fashion roof tiles and drains as well as tableware and cooking pots.

In ancient Greece, the islands of Naxos and Siphnos were both renowned for the production of beautifully carved objects from the soft stone, including stone seals. Small icons and crosses of soapstone have adorned churches in Bulgaria and Salonika. Vikings used soapstone as heat reflectors, a practice that continues to this day in northern Europe, where wood-burning stoves are built using blocks of soapstone, which collects and slowly releases the heat of the fire.

The Indus Valley has produced a wealth of soapstone carvings: beads, amulets, scarabs, small statuary, cylinder seals, vases, bowls and other utensils. Archeologists have also found thousands of steatite figures and fragments in Igbomina, Nigeria. For thousands of years soapstone has been used in Asia for the creation of pieces of art and for cooking utensils, plates, vases, teapots or boxes. Some of the most beautiful colors are found in Asian soapstones including not only white, black and grays, but also deep purple, pink and several shades of green.

Brazilian soapstone often has warm spicy colors: yellow-gold, caramel, brown, yellow-green and green. Many of the largest quarries are currently found in Brazil, where large slabs can be quarried for multiple uses, including sink basins and countertops. For centuries Brazilian cooks have maintained an unbroken tradition of using soapstone for cooking pots. They can be used directly over a flame or in an oven, heat evenly and keep food hot or cold if chilled first for a very long time. Paula Swenson is a writer, artist and teacher.

Swenson has been writing about art, business, travel and the English language for over 10 years. Soapstone's special properties continue to make it the "material of choice" for a wide variety of uses.

Soapstone statue: The famous "Christ the Redeemer" statue that overlooks the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is made of reinforced concrete and faced with soapstone. The statue is feet tall and was built on Corcovado Mountain. CIA image. Steatite: A traditional Inuit carving of a female's head done in black steatite, a very fine-grained variety of soapstone. Soapstone is a metamorphic rock that is composed primarily of talc , with varying amounts of chlorite , pyroxenes , micas, amphiboles, carbonates, and other minerals.

Soapstone is typically gray, bluish, green, or brown in color, often variegated. Its name is derived from its "soapy" feel and softness. The name "soapstone" is often used in other ways. Miners and drillers use the name for any soft rock that is soapy or slippery to the touch.

In the craft marketplace, sculptures and ornamental objects made from soft rocks such as alabaster or serpentine are often said to be made from "soapstone. Many people use the name "steatite" interchangeably with "soapstone. Soapstone pencils: Talc is very soft and has a white streak. Since soapstone is made primarily of talc, it will deposit a white powder when it is rubbed against almost any object.

This white mark is similar to talcum powder and is easily brushed off without leaving a permanent mark. Soapstone pencils are used by tailors to mark fabric. Soapstone markers are also used by welders. The heat-resistant powder does not burn away and continues to be visible when the workpiece is heated during the welding process. Peridotites , dunites, and serpentinites in this environment can be metamorphosed into soapstone.

On a smaller scale, soapstone can form where siliceous dolostones are altered by hot, chemically active fluids in a process known as metasomatism.

The best way to learn about rocks is to have specimens available for testing and examination. Soapstone is composed primarily of talc and shares many physical properties with that mineral. These physical properties make soapstone valuable for many different uses.

These useful physical properties include:. Soapstone is a rock , and its mineral composition can vary. As a result, the physical properties of the soapstone can vary from quarry to quarry and even within a single rock unit.

The level of metamorphism sometimes determines its grain size. Soapstone with a fine grain size works best for highly detailed carvings. The presence of minerals other than talc and the level of metamorphism can influence its hardness. Some of the harder varieties of soapstone are preferred for countertops because they are more durable than a pure talc soapstone.

Soapstone bullet mold from the Revolutionary War era. The two halves of this mold would be placed together and secured with wooden sticks through the four holes. Then molten lead would be poured into the five bullet molds. The mold would be opened after cooling, the lead sprue would be cut from the bullet, and the bullet surface would be filed smooth. Soapstone was used to make bullet molds because it was easily carved, heat resistant, and durable enough to be used hundreds of times.

The special properties of soapstone make it suitable, or the material of choice, for a wide variety of uses. A number of examples of soapstone use are explained below and in the photograph captions on this page. Soapstone countertops: The dark countertops and sink in this photo are made from soapstone. Soapstone is heat resistant, stain resistant, nonporous, and resistant to attack from acids and bases.

It is often used as a natural stone countertop in kitchens and laboratories. Soapstone is often used as an alternative natural stone countertop instead of granite or marble. In laboratories it is unaffected by acids and alkalis. In kitchens it is not stained or altered by tomatoes, wine, vinegar, grape juice, and other common food items.

Soapstone is unaffected by heat. Hot pots can be placed directly on it without fear of melting, burning, or other damage. Soapstone is a soft rock, and it is easily scratched in countertop use.

However, a gentle sanding and treatment with mineral oil will easily remove shallow scratches. Soapstone is not suitable for use as a workbench top where it will receive rough treatment and where sharp or abrasive objects will be placed upon it. Soapstone electrical panels: Remains of the original soapstone control panel of the Cos Cob Power Plant near Greenwich, Connecticut. Thick slabs of soapstone were often used to hold high-voltage equipment and wiring because soapstone is heat resistant and does not conduct electricity.

Soapstone tiles and panels are an excellent choice where heat and moisture are present. Soapstone is dense, without pores, does not stain, and repels water. Those properties make soapstone tiles and wall panels a good choice for showers, tub surrounds, and backsplashes. Soapstone is heat resistant and does not burn. That makes it an excellent wall covering behind wood-burning stoves and ovens. Fireplaces are also lined with soapstone to create a hearth that quickly absorbs heat and radiates it long after the fire is out.

This property of soapstone was recognized in Europe over years ago, and many early hearths there were lined with soapstone. Whiskystones are small soapstone cubes that are refrigerated and then used to chill a glass of whisky. They do not melt and dilute the drink.