Know all about Soapstone and Oil shale properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Soapstone belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Oil shale belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Soapstone is Polished whereas that of Oil shale is Splintery. Soapstone appears Dull, Banded and Foilated and Oil shale appears Muddy. The luster of Soapstone is greasy while that of Oil shale is dull. Soapstone is available in black, black to grey, green, grey colors whereas Oil shale is available in black, brown, buff, green, grey, red, yellow colors. The commercial uses of Soapstone are cemetery markers, creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, manufacture of soap, solvents, dyes, plastics and fibres, production of lime, source of magnesia (mgo) and that of Oil shale are an oil and gas reservoir.