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| Soapstone,
as the name implies, has a smooth soapy feeling. Primarily composed
of talc, soapstone is light blue/gray when fresh from the quarry, but its surface
darkens immediately with mineral oil and also oxidizes deepening in color and developing an attractive patina.
Soapstone is softer than marble or granite so it is easy to repair nicks
and chips in its surface. Although soft, soapstone is durable: the nonporous
surface will not stain or burn and is impervious to acids, a quality that
has made it a popular choice for countertops in laboratories and darkrooms.
Because the stone retains heat better than materials such as steel or enamel,
the dishwater stays hot longer, a quality that made soapstone a popular choice
for sinks before the days of hot running water. Unlike marble or granite,
soapstone does not require an epoxy coating to protect it from staining,
so when you run your hand across it's surface you feel the stone and not
the plastic coating. Take a closer look at the photo to the right to get an idea of the color of the stone.
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