Definition
Chalk is a soft, white, powdery limestone consisting mainly of fossil shells of foraminifers
  
It is a metamorphic magnesium rich rock because it is composed of the mineral talc
  
History
  
  
Origin
Unknown
  
USA
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From old English cealc chalk, lime, plaster; pebble, from Greek khalix small pebble, in English transferred to the opaque, white, soft limestone
  
From 17th century, because of its greasy feel and use like a soap
  
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
  
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Clastic or Non-Clastic
  
Polished
  
Color
Grey, White, Yellow
  
Black, Black to Grey, Green, Grey
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
No
  
No
  
Stain Resistant
No
  
No
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
No
  
Appearance
Soft
  
Dull, Banded and Foilated
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Bathrooms, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration
  
As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
  
Other Architectural Uses
Powder
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, raw material for manufacture of quicklime and slaked lime, Source of calcium
  
Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Alumina Refineries, Creating Artwork, Drawing on blackboards, Gymnasts, athletes and mountain climbers use for grip, In aquifers, Paper Industry, Production of Lime, Raw material for manufacture of quicklime, slaked lime, Soil Conditioner, Whiting, Whiting material in toothpaste, paint and paper
  
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Manufacture of Soap, Solvents, Dyes, Plastics and Fibres, Production of Lime, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Features
Clasts are smooth to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Smooth to touch, Very fine grained rock
  
Host Rock for Lead
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Stonehenge in English county of Wiltshire
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Used
  
Fossils
Present
  
Absent
  
Formation
Chalk is formed from lime mud, which accumulates on the sea floor which is then transformed into rock by geological processes.
  
Soapstone is a talc-schist, which is a type of metamorphic rock and it is largely composed of the mineral talc and is thus rich inmagnesium.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand
  
Albite, Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Carbonate, Clay Minerals, Hornblende, Ilmenite, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz
  
Compound Content
Ca, NaCl, CaO
  
CaO, Mg, MgO
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Weathering
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering
  
Not Applicable
  
Erosion
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion
  
Not Applicable
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
1
  
1
  
Grain Size
Very fine-grained
  
Fine Grained
  
Fracture
Not Available
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
White
  
Black
  
Porosity
Highly Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Dull
  
Greasy
  
Compressive Strength
Not Available
  
225.00 N/mm
2
  
7
Cleavage
Non-Existent
  
Perfect
  
Toughness
1
  
1
  
Specific Gravity
2.3-2.4
  
2.86
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.49-2.50 g/cm3
  
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.90 kJ/Kg K
  
12
0.88 kJ/Kg K
  
13
Resistance
Heat Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
  
China, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand
  
Africa
Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe
  
Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa
  
Europe
England, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom
  
Austria, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada, USA
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Colombia
  
Colombia
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Tonga, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula
  
Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland
  
Chalk vs Soapstone Characteristics
Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Chalk vs Soapstone characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Chalk and Properties of Soapstone. Learn more about Chalk vs Soapstone in the next section. The interior uses of Chalk include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Soapstone include Bathrooms, Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Chalk and Soapstone, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Chalk in construction industry include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Raw material for manufacture of quicklime and slaked lime, Source of calcium and that of Soapstone include Manufacture of magnesium and dolomite refractories.
More about Chalk and Soapstone
Here you can know more about Chalk and Soapstone. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Chalk and Soapstone consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Chalk includes Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand and mineral content of Soapstone includes Albite, Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Carbonate, Clay Minerals, Hornblende, Ilmenite, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Chalk vs Soapstone, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Chalk is available in grey, white, yellow colors whereas, Soapstone is available in black, black to grey, green, grey colors. Appearance of Chalk is Soft and that of Soapstone is Dull, Banded and Foilated. Properties of rock is another aspect for Chalk vs Soapstone. Hardness of Chalk and Soapstone is 1. The types of Chalk are Not Available whereas types of Soapstone are Not Available. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Chalk is white while that of Soapstone is black. The specific heat capacity of Chalk is 0.90 kJ/Kg K and that of Soapstone is 0.88 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Chalk is heat resistant whereas Soapstone is heat resistant, pressure resistant.