Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
Origin of name: from Arabic talq = pure
Crystal system: monoclinic
Crystal class: 2/m
Twinning:
Unit cell: a = 5.29 Å, b = 9.16 Å, c = 18.95 Å, b = 92.5°
Colour: pale green to dark green, greenish gray, white, silvery white,
Diaphaneity:
Luster: pearly or dull
Habit: crystals thin tabular, to 1 cm, massive, fine grained compact, foliated or fibrous, globular stellate groups
Hardness: 1
Specific gravity: 2.58 to 2.83
Cleavage: 1; {001} perfect
Tenacity: laminae flexible, inelastic
Streak: white
Synonyms/varieties: agalmatolite, kerolite (hydrous variety), soapstone (compact variety), steatite (massive, impure variety)
Comments:
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