Soapstone

Soapstone is a very soft stone made of a variety of talc. It is a dense mineral that wears well and is often resistant to oxide. Soapstone is softer and less porous than granite, so if gives your kitchen a softer, homier feel while still maintaining durability. Soapstone is very resistant to heat, so you do not need to worry about it cracking near your cook top, or a pot melting it. Soapstone is a tough material, won't break down easily and doesn't stain easily. You will need to apply mineral oil to your stone periodically and it will darken over time. It scratches and chips easily in comparison to other countertop materials. If your counter does get scratched or chipped you can usually use mineral oil or sandpaper to run the scratch out, however, this again makes your countertops high maintenance as they will scratch.