“Steatite” or Soapstone, as it’s more commonly known, is a metamorphic rock mostly composed of talc. Today its uses in homes are widely varied, given the versatility of this material.
For instance, soapstone kitchen counters are quite common. Soapstone is also often used in sculpture, large and small – famously, the Christ the Redeemer statute in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is made of this rock.