Technical Data of Soapstone

Physical Characteristics

• Specific weight: 2.8 – 2.9 kg/cm³ or 6.2 – 6.4 lbs./cm³ or about 22 lbs/sf (3 cm slab))
• Melting temperature: around 1,500 ºC or 2735ºF
• Specific heat: 0.26 Kcal/kg º (at 1,000ºC)
• Caloric conductivity: 2.6 Kcal/h m/ºC
• Thermal Expansion (20º-500º): 0.0000079%
• Hardness degree in Mohs scale: 1 – 4
• Resistance to pressure: 235 kg/cm²
• Dielectric resistance: 12500 V/cm
• Electric resistance: 17.7 x 10(6)

Chemical Composition

• Silicon dioxide (silica) SiO2: 46.0%
• Aluminium oxide (aluminia) Al2 O3: 11.0%
• Chrome oxide (chrome green) Cr2 O3: 0.4%
• Ferric oxide (hematite) Fe2 O3: 7.8%
• Calcium oxide (caustic lime) CaO: 1.2%
• Magnesium oxide (magnesite) MgO: 27.5%
• Other inclusions: 6.1%

Percentage of Mineral Content

• Talc: 45.0%
• Carbonate: 42.0%
• Chlorite: 5.0%
• Serpentinite: 5.0%
• Magnetite: 3.0%
• Chalcopyrite and pyrite in traces

All data included here is approximate.