Soapstone (also known as steatite or soaprock)'s a metamorphic rock, a talc-schist. It's largely composed of the mineral talc and's rich in magnesium. It's produced by dynamothermal metamorphism and metasomatism, which occurs at the areas where tectonic plates are subducted, changing rocks by heat and pressure, with influx of fluids, but without melting. It's been a medium for carving for thousands of years. Petrology Petrologically, soapstone's composed dominantly of talc, with varying amounts… (More on Steatite)