Talc Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

TALC(=SOAPSTONE =STEATITE)

Optics: Monoclinic: a=1.539—1.550; β=1.589—1.594; γ= 1.589—l.600.

Triclinic: a= 1.545; β=1.584; γ= 1.584.

Biaxial {—), 2V=30° in monoclinic.

Shadow edge at 1.54.

Occurrence: In hydrothermally altered ultrabasic rocks and thermally altered siliceous dolomites. Worldwide occurrence, sometimes in large beds, often associated with serpentines.

Many localities in the United States, especially Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, California.

Lake Nyasa, Central Africa; India: China." Australia; Zimbabwe; Canada: USSR.

Egypt: ancient deposit.

Comments: Steatite may be slightly harder than talc, due to impurities. Talc itself is often pseudomorphous after other minerals. Massive talc is easy to carve and is widely used for this purpose.

Talc has a greasy feel.

Name: Talc is from the Arabic word talk or talq, the name of the mineral. Steatite is from the Latin steatis, a type of stone, derived from the Greek word steatos, meaning fat.

Joel E. Arem, Ph.D., FGA

Dr. Joel E. Arem has more than 60 years of experience in the world of gems and minerals. After obtaining his Ph.D. in Mineralogy from Harvard University, he has published numerous books that are still among the most widely used references and guidebooks on crystals, gems and minerals in the world.

Co-founder and President of numerous organizations, Dr. Arem has enjoyed a lifelong career in mineralogy and gemology. He has been a Smithsonian scientist and Curator, a consultant to many well-known companies and institutions, and a prolific author and speaker. Although his main activities have been as a gem cutter and dealer, his focus has always been education. joelarem.com

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