Grayish green, grayish white, or brownish gray in color, it has not much to commend it as an ornamental stone. But it is easily worked, despite its close texture, and it takes some polish. The Chinese spend much time in carving it into intricately designed ornaments and images, and the town of Soochow specializes in working this stone. For this reason, it is often erroneously termed Soochow Jade, but it has no connection with jade and only resembles the poorest quality jadeite in color. The rough stone comes mainly from the U.S.A. and Canada, although it is mostly worked in China and India, where it is also found. Hardness is only 1 to 1 1/2, the lowest on Mohs' scale; specific gravity is 2.7 to 2.8. Soapstone has for long been cut into scarabs and figures. Well-cut specimens have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs, and larger figures have been discovered in ancient monuments in the East. The Egyptian scarabs may have been cut from material round in Southern Rhodesia, where there is still an abundance of it. Colored, it is much used in imitating engraved stones, particularly scarabs. It is easily cut, and the stone may be hardened by heating. In a powdered form, soapstone is used in the manufacture of many toilet powders (talcum and face powders). It is also used in paper making, the ceramic industry, and in the adulterating of soap. The best qualities for these purposes come from northern Italy. On account of its great resistance to heat, its low conductivity to heat and electricity, its resistance to acids, and its retention of hardness when heated to a high temperature, this material is sometimes used for lining furnaces and stoves. It is capable of absorbing fats and oils, and it might therefore be used for taking out grease spots from dress materials. It is also said that the Arabs use soapstone in place of soap, with some success, and Humboldt has described it as being eaten by a tribe of Indians dwelling on the banks of the river Orinoco, when no other food was available. Further, the West African Negroes mix soapstone with their rice, and eat it "without any inconvenience," according to Goldberry. Although uninteresting to the eye, it is therefore a material which possesses many utilitarian qualities, many of which are little known. It is found in the Pyrenees (in a mica schist), Another stone, very similar in appearance to soapstone but containing more potash in its composition, is agalmatolite. This is found in |
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This mineral is best known to jewelers as soapstone although it is also commonly known as steatite and talc. A hydrous silicate of magnesium, occurring sometimes in tabular crystals belonging either to the rhombic or monoclinic systems, it is distinguished by its greasy touch and appearance, and also by its softness. It is found often in a massive compact form, crypto-crystalline in structure, but its exact crystal system is still doubtful.