Definition
It is a metamorphic magnesium rich rock because it is composed of the mineral talc
  
Gabbro is an intrusive igneous rock which is chemically equivalent to plutonic Basalt
  
History
  
  
Origin
USA
  
Germany
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Christian Leopold von Buch
  
Etymology
From 17th century, because of its greasy feel and use like a soap
  
From Latin glaber bare, smooth, bald
  
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
  
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Plutonic
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Polished
  
Phaneritic
  
Color
Black, Black to Grey, Green, Grey
  
Dark Grey to Black
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Appearance
Dull, Banded and Foilated
  
Veined and Shiny
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Bathrooms, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings, Paving Stone
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
  
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
  
Medical Industry
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
  
Not Yet Used
  
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, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry, Sea Defence, Tombstones
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead
  
Smooth to touch
  
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
  
Not Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Not 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.
  
Gabbro, a mafic rock, forms due to cooling and crystallization of magma underneath Earth's surface.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Albite, Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Carbonate, Clay Minerals, Hornblende, Ilmenite, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz
  
Augite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
  
Compound Content
CaO, Mg, MgO
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Impact Metamorphism
  
Weathering
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Not Applicable
  
Chemical Weathering
  
Erosion
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Not Applicable
  
Coastal Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
1
  
7
  
Grain Size
Fine Grained
  
Coarse Grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
Black
  
Black
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Highly Porous
  
Luster
Greasy
  
Not Available
  
Compressive Strength
225.00 N/mm
2
  
7
225.00 N/mm
2
  
7
Cleavage
Perfect
  
Not Available
  
Toughness
1
  
1.6
  
Specific Gravity
2.86
  
2.86-2.87
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
  
2.7-3.3 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.88 kJ/Kg K
  
13
Not Available
  
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant
  
Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
China, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand
  
India, Russia
  
Africa
Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa
  
South Africa
  
Europe
Austria, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
  
Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Greenland
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada, USA
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Colombia
  
Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland
  
New Zealand, Queensland
  
All about Soapstone and Gabbro Properties
Know all about Soapstone and Gabbro properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Soapstone belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Gabbro belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Soapstone is Polished whereas that of Gabbro is Phaneritic. Soapstone appears Dull, Banded and Foilated and Gabbro appears Veined and Shiny. The luster of Soapstone is greasy while that of Gabbro is not available. Soapstone is available in black, black to grey, green, grey colors whereas Gabbro is available in dark grey to black 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 Gabbro are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, laboratory bench tops, jewelry, sea defence, tombstones.