About Soapstone
Soapstone (Steatite) is relatively soft because of the high talc content (talc is rated a 1 on the Mohs mineral hardness scale), and may feel soapy when touched, hence the name. Soapstone is used for inlaid designs, sculpture, coasters, and kitchen countertops -- both interior and outdoors -- and sinks. Traditional Inuit carvings often use soapstone, and some Native American groups made bowls, cooking slabs, and other objects from soapstone, particularly during the Late Archaic archaeological period. Soapstone is sometimes used for fireplace surrounds and woodstoves because it can absorb and evenly distribute heat while being easy to manufacture. Because steatite (soapstone) is virtually heat proof and has excellent thermal qualities, you can take a pot right from your stove and place is directly on your soapstone countertop without harming it.
Soapstone (also known as steatite or soaprock) is a metamorphic rock, a talc-schist. It is largely composed of the mineral talc and is rich in magnesium. It is 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.
Maintaining Soapstone
The only maintenance required for soapstone (steatite), is the occasional application of mineral oil to enhance the natural darkening process the stone goes through. Once mineral oil is applied, the stone will turn into a very dark charcoal gray, sometimes black. Certain varieties of soapstone will keep a hint of green.
Oiling a Soapstone Countertop
We recommend oiling your countertops to ensure that the stone will evenly darken. The oil is not sealing or protecting the stone, it is only "speeding up" the natural darkening process that steatite (soapstone) goes through. Soapstone is non-porous and unlike marble and granite does not need to be sealed.
There is no set rule on how often you should oil the countertops. However, oiling too little or too much will not damage the stone in any way. We recommend oiling the countertops as soon as the previous coat of mineral oil has started fading away (evaporating). Once you oil the countertops for the first time you will see the stone will become much darker. A few days from the first oiling, most soapstone will lighten back up. You can re-treat your countertops every time this happens. The soapstone will take approximately 3 coats of mineral oil to reach its final color, getting darker after every oiling. Every time you oil your countertops, the stone will hold the oil longer than the last time. Generally after about the 6th or 8th month the stone will stay permanently dark.
Immediately after you've oiled the soapstone, remove all the excess, until the countertops don't feel slick. There is no such thing as "let the oil soak in." Remember, soapstone is not porous -- nothing penetrates its surface.
Removing Scratches
Since soapstone is a soft surface, eventually your countertops will get scratched. Not to worry. Most scratches can be hidden by lightly applying some mineral oil. If you do get a deep scratch though, generally a light sanding will remove it. Take a small piece of 120-grit sandpaper, sand the scratch area in a circular motion until the scratch is almost gone, then follow with a 220-grit sandpaper doing the same thing but this time using water. Clean up the countertop then oil that section again. Sanding will have removed the mineral oil, and the stone will take 3 coats to reach the final color. You may notice a slight color difference on that spot, but after subsequent oilings the color will even out and blend seamlessly into the surrounding areas.