Soapstone Stove, Circa 1876

Geologists call it Steatite. It is also known as Black Talc and Lava Stone; it is most commonly referred to as soapstone, a product that has had many uses throughout history. Soapstone is a natural material (metamorphic rock) formed millions of years ago under intense heat and pressure. It evolved from a molten state deep within the earth and has an unusually stable composition. Unlike other stones, soapstone can withstand fire and dramatic changes in temperature. Other stones, such as granite and marble, also hold and radiate heat, but only soapstone is able to withstand direct flames indefinitely.

History

For many centuries, people all over the world have made use of soapstone. The Egyptians and Assyrians carved their beautiful ancient sculptures from soapstone. Norwegians used it to construct cathedrals during the 11th and 12th centuries. Because it withstands extreme temperatures, Eskimos used it for cooking, heating and serving food, as well as keeping things warm. Using soapstone, Eskimos developed the first "non stick" griddles; soapstone heated their food evenly over the open fire. In Colonial times, our ancestors quarried soapstone to use as bed warmers, foot warmers, cooking griddles and sinks.

Characteristic

There is nothing quite like soapstone. First, it possesses extraordinary heating properties. It stores more heat for its weight than any other naturally occurring material, and holds twice the heat-storing capacity of iron. Additionally, unlike steel and other metals, soapstone can withstand great fluctuation in temperature with little expansion or contraction.

All stoves radiate heat while the fire burns, but soapstone stoves store and release heat for hours, even as the fire dies. As wood burns, it produces heat that is transferred into the stone. Once the stone is heated, heat begins to radiate steadily. The soapstone absorbs massive amounts of heat then slowly radiates it for hours. The result is a lasting heat that warms the home steadily, and evenly.

HearthStone builds stoves with soapstone to offer stoves that provide slow-burning, even, radiant heat that continues to warm your home long after the fire cools. HearthStone uses "Acaiaca" soapstone, which is quarried in Minas Gerais, Brazil (Minas Gerais means "various mines" in Portuguese). In this region, where more than half of Brazil’s mineral wealth is produced, ‘sapon’ (soapstone) is use extensively in architecture, statues, monuments, cookware and tourist trinkets.

Why travel to Brazil to quarry soapstone, when large deposits of soapstone exist in the United States? The journey to Brazil is in search of Acaiaca soapstone, which possesses a distinctly beautiful pattern, created by a unique blend of steatite, talc and iron. This blend is not only beautiful to behold, but also creates a strong mechanical structure that allows the soapstone to absorb strong heat without breaking. The iron in the Acaiaca soapstone, creates beautiful colorations. It gives the soapstone a unique patina, sheen and color that is further highlighted with heat, age and use.

In building a HearthStone stove, we select the soapstone for its distinct grains, and nuances of color, and then carefully polish it to a soft luster before cutting it into panels. We hand-select each soapstone panel to ensure the nuances of each stone complement one another. With each stove, an elegant design is matched with the best materials, to guarantee each HearthStone soapstone stove has the qualities you would expect of a favorite heirloom.