Soapstone facts for kids

A block of talc

An ancient Egyptian ornament made from steatite.

Soapstone, also known as steatite, is a special type of metamorphic rock. This means it's a rock that has changed over a very long time due to heat and pressure deep inside the Earth. Soapstone has a lot of a soft mineral called talc in it.

Because soapstone feels smooth and a bit greasy, like a bar of soap, people started calling it "soapstone." It's much softer than most other rocks. This makes it easy to carve and shape. People have been using soapstone to make all sorts of things for thousands of years!

What is Soapstone?

Soapstone is mostly made of talc, which is one of the softest minerals on Earth. This is why soapstone is so soft and easy to work with. It can be found in many places around the world.

How Soapstone Forms

Soapstone forms when other rocks, like serpentine or dolomite, are changed by heat and pressure. This process is called metamorphism. The original minerals in the rock change into new minerals, like talc, creating soapstone.

Uses of Soapstone

Soapstone has been used for many different purposes throughout history and even today. Its softness and ability to hold heat make it very useful.

Ancient Uses

People in ancient times loved soapstone because it was easy to carve.

• Seals and Ornaments: During the Harappan or Indus Valley Civilization (around 2500 BC to 1750 BC), people used soapstone to make small seals. These seals were like stamps used to mark goods. They also made beautiful ornaments and figures.
• Sculptures: Many ancient sculptures from different cultures, including the Inuit people and those from the Middle East, were carved from soapstone. It was perfect for creating detailed art.

Chinese jade and soapstone plaques, made in the style of ancient animal art. These are from the 4th–3rd century BC and are kept at the British Museum.

Modern Uses

Even today, soapstone is used in many ways.

• Electrical Parts: For a long time, soapstone was an important material for making ceramics used as insulators in electrical parts. This is because it doesn't conduct electricity well.
• Cooking and Heating: Soapstone can hold heat very well. This makes it great for things like cooking stones, fireplaces, and even some types of stoves. It heats up slowly and releases heat evenly.
• Art and Craft: Artists still use soapstone for carving sculptures and making crafts because it's so easy to shape.

Images for kids

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  Samples of soapstone

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  Mythological figures carved in soapstone by Kayasark, an Inuit carver, held in the Honolulu Academy of Arts

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  The 21st-century BC statue of Iddi-Ilum from Mari, Syria, is made of soapstone

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  The outer layers of the Christ the Redeemer sculpture in Rio de Janeiro are made of soapstone.

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  A 12th-century Byzantine relief of Saint George and the Dragon

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  Soapstone sculpture on the Hoysala temple at Belur, India

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  Soapstone slot-and-tab tomb in Dahlonega, Georgia

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  A fountain made with soapstone, near Our Lady of Good Voyage Cathedral, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

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  Steatite scarab at the Walters Art Museum

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  Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway, constructed mainly of soapstone

See also

In Spanish: Esteatita para niños