Know all about Gneiss and Soapstone properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Gneiss and Soapstone belong to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Gneiss is Banded, Foliated, Platy whereas that of Soapstone is Polished. Gneiss appears Foliated and Soapstone appears Dull, Banded and Foilated. The luster of Gneiss is dull while that of Soapstone is greasy. Gneiss is available in black, brown, pink, red, white colors whereas Soapstone is available in black, black to grey, green, grey colors. The commercial uses of Gneiss are cemetery markers, jewelry, tombstones, used in aquariums and that of Soapstone are cemetery markers, creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, manufacture of soap, solvents, dyes, plastics and fibres, production of lime, source of magnesia (mgo).