Definition
It is a metamorphic magnesium rich rock because it is composed of the mineral talc
  
Foidolite is a rare type of coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock with a feldspathoid mineral content greater than 60%
  
History
  
  
Origin
USA
  
Unknown
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From 17th century, because of its greasy feel and use like a soap
  
From the mineral feldspathoid which is the main content of rock
  
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
  
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Plutonic
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Polished
  
Earthy
  
Color
Black, Black to Grey, Green, Grey
  
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Scratch Resistant
No
  
No
  
Stain Resistant
No
  
No
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
No
  
Appearance
Dull, Banded and Foilated
  
Dull
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Bathrooms, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
  
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate
  
Medical Industry
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
  
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Manufacture of Soap, Solvents, Dyes, Plastics and Fibres, Production of Lime, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
  
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead
  
Host Rock for Lead
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Stonehenge in English county of Wiltshire
  
Data Not Available
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Absent
  
Formation
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.
  
Foidolites is a fine-grained, hard rock which is a type of metasomatite, essentially altered basalt. It forms with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive rocks or on the surface as extrusive rocks.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Albite, Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Carbonate, Clay Minerals, Hornblende, Ilmenite, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz
  
Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
  
Compound Content
CaO, Mg, MgO
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism
  
Weathering
No
  
No
  
Types of Weathering
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Erosion
No
  
No
  
Types of Erosion
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
1
  
1.5
  
Grain Size
Fine Grained
  
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
Black
  
White
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Very Less Porous
  
Luster
Greasy
  
Subvitreous to Dull
  
Compressive Strength
225.00 N/mm
2
  
7
Not Available
  
Cleavage
Perfect
  
Perfect
  
Toughness
1
  
Not Available
  
Specific Gravity
2.86
  
2.86
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Translucent
  
Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
  
Not Available
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.88 kJ/Kg K
  
13
Not Available
  
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
China, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand
  
Russia
  
Africa
Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa
  
South Africa, Western Africa
  
Europe
Austria, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
  
Not Yet Found
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada, USA
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Colombia
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland
  
Central Australia, Western Australia
  
All about Soapstone and Foidolite Properties
Know all about Soapstone and Foidolite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Soapstone belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Foidolite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Soapstone is Polished whereas that of Foidolite is Earthy. Soapstone appears Dull, Banded and Foilated and Foidolite appears Dull. The luster of Soapstone is greasy while that of Foidolite is subvitreous to dull. Soapstone is available in black, black to grey, green, grey colors whereas Foidolite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white 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 Foidolite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork.