![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
prettygoodwordsoapstone (SOHP-stohn) - n., a soft metamorphic rock used for carving.
It's basically metamorphosed talc with a few other minerals (some mix of serpentine, magnetite, dolomite, and calcite). It's soft enough, it often has an almost soapy feel, thus the name. While it gets a patina, it doesn't weather much and its thermal properties make it also good for fireplace lining.
Thanks, WikiMedia!
---L.
It's basically metamorphosed talc with a few other minerals (some mix of serpentine, magnetite, dolomite, and calcite). It's soft enough, it often has an almost soapy feel, thus the name. While it gets a patina, it doesn't weather much and its thermal properties make it also good for fireplace lining.
Thanks, WikiMedia!
---L.
