The lid of a pyrophyllite box. The lid is 4 inches wide (10 cm).

Soapstone (also known as steatite or soaprock) is a metamorphic rock, a talc-schist. It is largely composed of the mineral talc and is rich in magnesium. It is produced by dynamothermal metamorphism, which occurs at the areas where tectonic plates are subducted, changing rocks by heat and pressure, with influx of fluids, but without melting. It has been a medium for carving for thousands of years. The lid of a soapstone box, showing pierced work and inlaying. ... The lid of a soapstone box, showing pierced work and inlaying. ... Pyrophyllite is a mineral species belonging to the clay family and composed of hydrous aluminium silicate HAl (SiOf)2. ... Quartzite, a form of metamorphic rock, from the Museum of Geology at University of Tartu collection. ... Schist The schists form a group of medium-grade metamorphic rocks, chiefly notable for the preponderance of lamellar minerals such as micas, chlorite, talc, hornblende, graphite, and others. ... Talc (derived from the Persian via Arabic talq) is a mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate with the chemical formula H2Mg3(SiO3)4 or Mg3Si4O10(OH)2. ... General Name, symbol, number magnesium, Mg, 12 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, period, block 2, 3, s Appearance silvery white solid at room temp Standard atomic weight 24. ... Metamorphism can be defined as the solid state recrystallisation of pre-existing rocks due to changes in heat and/or pressure and/or introduction of fluids i. ... The tectonic plates of the world were mapped in the second half of the 20th century. ... The Juan de Fuca plate sinks below the North America plate at the Cascadia subduction zone. ...

Petrology

A block of talc

Petrologically, soapstone is composed dominantly of talc, with varying amounts of chlorite and amphiboles (typically tremolite, anthophyllite, and magnesiocummingtonite), and trace to minor FeCr-oxides. It may be schistose or massive. Soapstone is formed by the metamorphism of ultramafic protoliths (e.g. dunite or serpentinite) and the metasomatism of siliceous dolostones. Image File history File links Talc_block. ... Image File history File links Talc_block. ... Petrology is a field of geology which focuses on the study of rocks and the conditions by which they form. ... Talc (derived from the Persian via Arabic talq) is a mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate with the chemical formula H2Mg3(SiO3)4 or Mg3Si4O10(OH)2. ... Chlorite is a group of phyllosilicate minerals often classified as clays. ... For the logical fallacy, see Amphibology. ... A sample of tremolite Tremolite is a member of the amphibole group of silicate minerals with composition: Ca2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2. ... Anthophyllite is an amphibole mineral: (Mg, Fe)7Si8O22(OH)2, magnesium iron inosilicate hydroxide. ... Cummingtonite or magnesium iron silicate hydroxide is a metamorphic index mineral with the chemical composition (Mg,Fe)7Si8O22(OH)2. ... An oxide is a chemical compound containing at least one oxygen atom and other elements. ... Schist The schists form a group of medium-grade metamorphic rocks, chiefly notable for the preponderance of lamellar minerals such as micas, chlorite, talc, hornblende, graphite, and others. ... Igneous rock which crystallizes from silicate minerals at the highest temperatures is referred to as ultramafic rock. ... Protolith refers to the precursor lithology of a metamorphic rock. ... Dunite is an igneous, plutonic rock, of ultramafic composition, with coarse grained or phaneritic texture. ... A sample of serpentinite rock, partially made up of chrysotile Serpentinite is a rock comprised of one or more serpentine minerals. ... Metasomatism is a geologic process where metamorphism causes an alteration in a mineral or rock mass that involves a chemical change of the substance with the addition of material, as when chrysolite (olivine) is converted to serpentine basically by the addition of water. ... Dolostone is a sedimentary carbonate rock that contains a high percentage of the mineral dolomite. ...

Pyrophyllite, a mineral very similar to talc is sometimes called soapstone in the generic sense since its physical characteristics and industrial uses are similar, and because it is also commonly used as a carving material. However this stone typically does not have such a soapy feel from which soapstone derives its name. Pyrophyllite is a mineral species belonging to the clay family and composed of hydrous aluminium silicate HAl (SiOf)2. ...

Physical characteristics and uses

It is relatively soft (because of the high talc content, talc being 1 on Mohs hardness scale), and may feel soapy when touched, hence the name. Soapstone is used for inlaid designs, sculpture, coasters, and kitchen countertops and sinks. Traditional Inuit carvings often use soapstone, and some Native American groups made bowls, cooking slabs, and other objects from soapstone, particularly during the Late Archaic archaeological period. Due to its chemical stability and resistance to acid, soapstone is the most commonly used material for chemistry lab counter and sink surfaces.^{[citation needed]} Soapstone is sometimes used for fireplace surrounds and woodstoves because it can absorb and evenly distribute heat while being easy to manufacture. This is found in some Alaskan homes. It is also used for griddles and other cookware. The Mohs scale of mineral hardness characterizes the scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material. ... A glass with a ceramic coaster under it. ... A stainless steel countertop Countertop (also counter top, countertopping, or (British English) worktop) usually refers to a horizontal worksurface in kitchens, other food preparation areas, and workrooms in general. ... For other uses, see Inuit (disambiguation). ... This article is about the people indigenous to the United States. ... The name Archaic Period is given by archaeologists to the earliest periods of a culture. ...

Tepe Yahya, an ancient trading city in southeastern Iran, was a centre for the production and distribution of soapstone in the 5th–3rd millennia BC^[1]

Soapstone has been used in India for centuries as a soft medium for carving, but unfortunately the world wide demand for soapstone is threatening the tiger's habitat.^[2] The Hoysala Empire temples were made from soapstone.^[3] Extent of Hoysala Empire, 1200 CE Capital Belur, Halebidu Language(s) Kannada Religion Hindu Government Monarchy King  - 1026 – 1047 Nripa Kama II  - 1292 – 1343 Veera Ballala III History  - Earliest Hoysala records 950  - Established 1026  - Disestablished 1343 The Hoysala Empire (Kannada: ಹೊಯ್ಸಳ ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯ) (pronunciation: in Kannada) was a prominent South Indian empire that...

Soapstone markers are used by welders and fabricators as a marker because, due to its resistance to heat, it remains visible when heat is applied.^{[citation needed]} Soapstone is used to create molds for the casting of pewter objects. Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by causing coalescence. ... A typical steel fabrication shop Fabrication, when used as an industrial term, applies to the building of machines , structures, process equipment for chemical, fertilizer sector by cutting, shaping and assembling components made from raw materials. ... This article is about the manufacturing process. ... Pewter plate Pewter is a metal alloy, traditionally between 85 and 99 percent tin, with the remainder consisting of 1-15 percent copper, acting as a hardener, with the addition of lead for the lower grades of pewter, which have a bluish tint. ...

Soapstone smoking pipes are found, for example, in Native American Indian artifacts.^{[citation needed]} G. H. Hardy smoking a pipe of tobacco A smoking pipe for tobacco smoking typically consists of a small chamber (the bowl) for the combustion of the tobacco to be smoked and a thin stem (shank) that ends in a mouthpiece (the bit). ...

Locally quarried soapstone was used as gravemarkers in 19th century northeast Georgia around Dahlonega and Cleveland, as simple field stone and "slot and tab" tombs.

An Egyptian carved and glazed steatite scarab amulet.

The term steatite is sometimes used for soapstone. It is also a type of ceramic material made from soapstone with minor additives and heated to vitrify (to change or make into glass or a glassy substance, especially through heat fusion). It is often used as an insulator or housing for electrical components, due to its durability and electrical characteristics and because it can be pressed into complex shapes before firing. It was used for beads and seals in ancient civilizations. Steatite undergoes transformations when heated to temperatures of 1000-1200 °C into enstatite and cristobalite; in the Mohs scale, this corresponds to an increase in hardness from 1 to 5.5-6.5.^[4] Image File history File links Scarab550bc. ... Image File history File links Scarab550bc. ... A scarab or scarab beetle may refer to: A beetle which belong to the family Scarabaeidae, or A dung beetle, especially the Scarabaeus sacer worshipped by the ancient Egyptians (an amulet made by that people in the shape of the species is also called a scarab). ... Fixed Partial Denture, or Bridge The word ceramic is derived from the Greek word κεραμικός (keramikos). ... A vitrification experiment for the study of nuclear waste disposal at Pacific Northwest National Labs Vitrification is a process of converting a material into a glass-like amorphous solid which is free of any crystalline structure, either by the quick removal or addition of heat, or by mixing with an... This article is about the material. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... The pyroxene silicate minerals enstatite (MgSiO3) and ferrosilite (FeSiO3) form a complete solid solution series and are common rock-forming minerals found in igneous and metamorphic rocks and meteorites. ... Common in volcanic rocks, cristobalite is a high-temperature polymorph of quartz and tridymite. ...

Other names

Kisii stone from Kenya is a type of pyrophyllite used by the Kisii people of the Tabaka Hills in Western Kenya. They use this material to make pots, used to carry fat for massaging into their skin to guard against the elements. Kisii (also known as Gusii) is a Bantu tribe which inhabits Kisii District in Nyanza, western Kenya. ...

Combarbalite stone, exclusively mined in Combarbala, Chile, is known for its many colors. While they are not visible during mining, they come out after refining.

Palewa and gorara stones are types of Indian soapstone.

A variety of other regional and marketing names for soapstone are used.^[5]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

soapstone or steatite

Steatite in its raw mineral form

• Ultramafic rock
• Talc carbonate
• Serpentinite
• List of minerals

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Image File history File links Mineraly. ... Image File history File links Mineraly. ... Igneous rock which crystallizes from silicate minerals at the highest temperatures is referred to as ultramafic rock. ... Talc carbonate is a geologic term for a suite of rock and mineral compositions found in metamorphic ultramafic rocks. ... A sample of serpentinite rock, partially made up of chrysotile Serpentinite is a rock comprised of one or more serpentine minerals. ... Gem animals. ...

Notes

1. ^ ("Tepe Yahya." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2004. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. 3 Jan. 2004 <http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article-9380473/Tepe-Yahya>.)
2. ^ West's love of talc threatens India's tigers. Retrieved on 2007-01-09.
3. ^ Belur, Halebid and Sravanabelagola. Retrieved on 2007-01-09.
4. ^ Some Important Aspects of the Harappan Technological Tradition, Bhan KK, Vidale M and Kenoyer JM, in Indian Archaeology in Retrospect/edited by S. Settar and Ravi Korisettar, Manohar Press, New Delhi, 2002.
5. ^ http://www.cst.cmich.edu/USERS/DIETR1RV/soapstone.htm

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• How to carve soapstone (Sculpture and Tools with sources by Sandy Cline)
• Soapstone carvings
• Ancient soapstone bowl (The Central States Archaeological Journal)
• Soapstone Native American Quarries, Maryland (Geological Society of America)
• Prehistoric soapstone use in northeastern Maryland (Antiquity Journal)
• The Blue Rock Soapstone Quarry, Yancey County, NC (North Carolina Office of State Archaeology)