• Talc is the softest mineral.
• It can be scratched with your fingernail.
• One common use for talc is baby powder.

• Soapstone is talc with some impurities in it.
• It is called soapstone because it is slippery like soap.
• It is a soft stone though harder than talc.
• Because it is easily scratched, it is also popular for carving.

 This soapstone was found in a ditch near a road cut in Fleur de Lys, Newfoundland - site of ancient soapstone mining. Notice how easily soapstone erodes. These pieces must have broken off of the rock face and quickly eroded due to the effect of the climate. The rock on the far right has a white line on it which shows how easily it is scratched.

• In Newfoundland, there is a really interesting rock outcropping which shows how the early inhabitants of the island used soapstone to make bowls. If you look closely you can see that they carved the bowls directly out from the rock face. Some even appear to be partially carved - perhaps in readiness should they need a new bowl in a hurry.
• For more information about Prehistoric Soapstone Mining, read http://www.heritage.nf.ca/environment/soapstone.html