Soapstone Countertops. Soapstone or Steatite is a metamorphic rock that comes in degrees of hardness. It is composed of talc, magnesium silicate and chlorite. The softer is known as "talc" and is used to carve or crush to a powder for a variety of purposes.

What is Soapstone?
Soapstone or Steatite is a metamorphic rock that comes in degrees of hardness. It is composed of talc, magnesium silicate and chlorite. The softer is known as "talc" and is used to carve or crush to a powder for a variety of purposes. Soapstone West uses the harder version of steatite, which makes it appropriate for countertops and other similar uses that require durability and other unique properties. It is a quarried stone that comes in shades such as green/gray, blue/gray and charcoal gray in its natural state but turns quite dark to almost black with the application of mineral oil.

Warm, rustic, inviting and yet modern
Soapstone countertops look warm, rustic, inviting, which is soft to the touch and user-friendly. Soapstone has also been used as laboratory counters in schools and colleges because of inertness, its ability to resist stains and not react to chemicals and acid. Therefore its finish isn't jeopardized by acidic spills such as lemon, vinegar, or wine, like high gloss marble and granite can be.

Soapstone is a time tested material
Centuries old farmhouses have original soapstone countertops and sinks still in use today. Soapstone has been used for hundreds of years in fireplaces, countertops and sinks. As a countertop material it is an obvious choice because of its ease of workability and durability.