Talc is the softest mineral, with a hardness of 1.

Chemical Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH02
Class: Silicates
Hardness: 1
Coloration: white, colorless, to a green, yellow, or brown.

How to identify it/Unique Characteristics or Properties: Talc is the softest mineral, with a hardness of 1. It can be ground into a powder to be used as a filler, and absorbs other things very well, from colors to smells. The picture above is from a dyed piece of talc carved and polished into a pendent.

Talc can feel soapy when touched and can be easily scratched by almost anything. It also comes in a variety of forms, from crystalline to massive (block like, no crystals), from fibrous to compact forms.

Where to find it in…

The Northwest: Southern Oregon
Other: Widely spread across the entire world.
Past Uses: Talc has been carved, as soapstone. It has been made into vases, carvings, and beads. It is used as an absorbent in baby powder, a filler in paints, and even in plastics.
How it was Made: Generally found near serpentine, when minor metamorphism occurs of more standard minerals.
Interesting Facts: Dense forms of talc can be further hardened and used as heat shielding.