Soapstone is a metamorphic rock which is mainly composed by the mineral Talc. What confuses many people, is the fact that there are two different materials, popularly called soapstone: The mineral Talc, softest mineral on earth, is also called soapstone. This mineral is mostly used for the manufacture of cosmetics, refractory materials, sculptures, and many items we use everyday, such as toothpaste, baby powder (talc + fragrance) and even chewing gum. The rock Steatite, also called soapstone, is the material we use for our countertops, sinks, masonry heaters, flooring, and many other architectural applications. Soapstone (Steatite) was also used to “coat” the most famous structure in Brazil, the large image of Jesus on top of the mountain overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro. This rock is composed of several minerals but the most abundant is Talc. Steatite is harder than Talc, reason why it is suitable for the applications cited above.