Steatite

Steatite is a mineral also known as soapstone.  Steatite also denotes a glassy ceramic material made from soapstone, used by ancient civilizations to make beads, amulets and seals.  To make the ceramic-like material, steatite was mixed with additives, carved or molded into the desired shape, and heated to temperatures between 1000 and 1200 °C.  The steatite would vitrify, fusing into the glassy substances, enstatite and cristobalite.  On the Mohs scale the change would an increase hardness from 1 to between 5.5 and 6.5.

Steatite

Steatite is a mineral also known as soapstone.  It has been a medium for carving for thousands of years. 

Steatite also denotes a glassy ceramic material made from soapstone, used by ancient civilizations to make beads, amulets and seals.  To make the ceramic-like material, steatite was sometimes mixed with additives, it was either carved or molded into the desired shape, and was then heated to a temperature between 1000 and 1200 °C.  At that temperature steatite will vitrify, fusing into the glassy substances enstatite and cristobalite.  On the Mohs scale, the change increases hardness from 1 to between 5.5 and 6.5.