Soapstone Carving

Hardness of 1 to 5 on the Mohs scale depending on talc content; soapy or greasy feel; gray, white, green, or brown colors; massive to foliated crystal structure; dull to greasy luster.

Formed by metamorphism (specifically metasomatism) of ultramafic rocks (like dunite or serpentinite) in convergent plate boundaries or hydrothermal alteration of siliceous dolomites.

Used for carving sculptures, ornamental objects, countertops, heat retention blocks (such as in foot warmers or wood stoves), and refractory bricks.

Soapstone has been utilized for thousands of years by various cultures worldwide for carving tools, pipes, bowls, and statues due to its extreme softness and ease of shaping.

Easily identifiable by its softness (can be scratched easily with a fingernail or coin) and its characteristic soapy texture. Found globally wherever ancient tectonic collision zones altered magnesium-rich rocks.