Steatite

Where it forms, where it's found

96recorded occurrences

Source · OpenStreetMap

Chemical composition

Constituent elements: Mass composition breakdown
Element Atoms At. mass g/mol Mass g/mol Mass share
8OOxygen Oxygen 12 15.999 191.988
50.62%
14SiSilicon Silicon 4 28.085 112.340
29.62%
12MgMagnesium Magnesium 3 24.305 72.915
19.23%
1HHydrogen Hydrogen 2 1.008 2.016
0.53%
Total 379.259 100.00%
Mass share = atoms × atomic mass ÷ molar mass × 100
From Mindat formula

Mass composition breakdown
Element	Atoms	At. mass g/mol	Mass g/mol	Mass share
8OOxygen	Oxygen	12	15.999	191.988	50.62%
14SiSilicon	Silicon	4	28.085	112.340	29.62%
12MgMagnesium	Magnesium	3	24.305	72.915	19.23%
1HHydrogen	Hydrogen	2	1.008	2.016	0.53%
	Total	379.259	100.00%

Synonyms

Esteatite
Kleberstein
Lavezstein
Pierre ollaire
Pietra ollare
Seifenstein
Speckstein
Speckstein (of Cronstedt)
Specksten
Speckstone
Steatit
Steatita
Stéatite
Steatīts
Talc (Steatite)
Talcusstein
Täljsten
Topfstein
Vuolukivi

Literature, links & citation

Citations

—https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speckstein
—https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soapstone
—Pfeifer, H. R. (2022) Speckstein, ein sehr spezielles Gestein: Allgemeines und das Beispiel Wallis. Minaria Helvetica 43, 4-32.
—Mannoni, T., Pfeier, H.R., Serneels, V. (1987) Giacimanti e cave di pietra ollare nelle alpi. Archeologia dell’Italia Settentrionale 5. Edizioni New Press. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301549074_Giacimenti_e_cave_della_pietra_ollare_nelle_Alpi
1836Lychnell, L. P. (1836) Untersuchung des Specksteins. Annalen der Physik und Chemie, 114. 147-149 doi:10.1002/andp.18361140508DOI: 10.1002/andp.18361140508

Cite this entry

@misc{mineral2026,
  author    = {Mineral Index editorial board},
  title     = {Steatite — Mineral Index},
  year      = {2026},
  url       = {https://mineralindex.org/minerals/steatite-3755},
  note      = {Accessed 2026-05-11}
}