How is soapstone useful for a bath?
Significant volumes of this stone are mined in Finland by the Tulikivi company, which produces fireplaces and sauna stoves from it, as well as finishing material. It is noteworthy that the Tulikivi website indicates that soapstone (pot stone, steatite) in Russia is erroneously known as soapchlorite. In Finland it is called Tulikivi. But tradition is tradition, and henceforth we will mainly call this mineral soapstone chlorite. Quite a lot has been written about the physical properties of this stone – namely the ability to accumulate thermal energy, including on the website of the Afroart gallery (see Talkochlorite). Here we will describe its qualities from the point of view of medicine and magic, based on materials from the book by Lipovsky Yu .ABOUT. “Healing and magical stones.” 
The author of the book is Yuri Olegovich Lipovsky, a professional geologist and mineralogist. He believes that the stones can be used in restoring the balance of Yin and Yang. Therefore, he classifies each mineral into one of two categories. The concept of treatment in Chinese medicine suggests that diseases are a manifestation of an imbalance of Yin (feminine) and Yang (masculine). The author of the book attributes soapstone chlorite to Yang:
- Mineralogical class: belongs to the group of chlorites, hydrous meta-aluminosilicates of magnesium and iron, (MglFe2+)3[(OH)2(AlSi3010) (Mg.Fe) (OH)6. Soapstone chlorite is often defined as a mineral consisting of talc (40-50%). magnesite (40-50%) and chlorite (10%).
- Synonym: “tulikivi” (Finnish for “hot stone”).
- Color: greyish green, grey, dark grey.
- Hardness: 2-3.
- Density: 2,6-3,3 g/cm3.
The stone has high heat resistance. It occurs in the form of dense masses of coarse shale texture, forming sheet deposits and lenses among metamorphic rocks. Unique deposits of this rare and wonderful stone are located in Russia, in Karelia – in Zaonezhye (Koivan-Turgan-Allusta deposits) and in the Kostomuksha region.
Abroad, soapstone is known in Finland, where it is considered the national stone. Soapstone is an almost ideal refractory material that does not melt, does not burn out, and does not produce microcracks due to temperature changes. It heats up quickly and cools down slowly. If you take a piece of this stone and put it in hot water for 5 minutes, it will cool for about an hour. Fireplaces finished with this stone produce very soft, healthy heat radiation that lasts for 36 hours or more. Thanks to these properties, a wide range of products are produced from tulikivi in Finland, which are supplied to various countries around the world. These are fireplaces, stoves, facing slabs, tulikivi floors with electric heating, outdoor grills, fine dishes (cups, pots, pans, thermoses).
Healing and magical properties: in Finnish and Karelian medicine, tulikivi is still used for the prevention and treatment of radiculitis, sciatica, osteochondrosis, traumatic joint injuries, etc. Based on the healing properties of Karelian soapstone, a mineral heating pad has been developed in the form of a polished tile measuring 10×10-15×15 cm and thickness 2-3 cm. It is convenient for use at home. The heating pad is heated for 20-30 minutes in a pan of water or in the oven, then the heated tile is applied to the sore spot and held until it cools down. If necessary, the soapstone warmer is heated again. The stone does not lose its healing properties with repeated use.
It was found that in addition to the well-known properties of soapstone, it has strong energy (YN) with a vibration frequency close to the vibrations of the brain. Based on this quality, biostimulants from soapstone chlorite were developed.
Due to its exceptional properties, soapstone is recognized as one of the best stove materials.
Withstanding temperatures up to 1600 °C, it accumulates maximum thermal energy due to its high heat capacity and releases it evenly for a long time.
The chemical resistance of the stone is exceptionally high. It is not susceptible to even strong acids; only very strong alkalis can corrode its surface. Therefore, soapstone cladding in Krasnodar is one of the key stages in the construction of a bathhouse.
Soapstone (talcomagnesite) in the Maestron company classification is 100% “bathroom” stone.
A stove in soapstone in Krasnodar looks very good, in addition to the aesthetic component, it contains many beneficial properties for the body.
In Finland, soapstone is not only known, it is “worshipped” there, and there it is rightfully considered a national stone.
Soapstone is an almost ideal refractory material that does not melt, does not burn out, and does not produce microcracks due to temperature changes. It heats up quickly and cools down slowly. If you take a piece of this stone and put it in hot water for 5 minutes, it will cool for about an hour. Fireplaces finished with this stone produce very soft, healthy heat radiation that lasts for 36 hours or more.
I first became acquainted with soapstone stone in 2003. Before this, only gabrodiabase stone was offered for stoves. I just had a facility where the client understood and loved the bathhouse. But the facility was in the city center and the task was reduced to installing only an electric heater. We selected him a “competent” electric heater with a load of 100-120 kg of stones, and initially the estimate included gabrodiabase as a stone for the stove (there was simply no other stone at that time). According to my recommendation, we first heated the steam room with gabrodiabase, and the next day (the stones needed to cool) we loaded it with soapstone.
They ONLY changed the stone in the electric heater.
We received an ABSOLUTELY different bathhouse – soft, “fluffy”.
I don’t want to say anything bad about gabrodiabase. He’s just “different”. I just wanted to explain to you with this example, which was vivid for me then, how many different, “subtle things” affect the atmosphere of the steam room.
That’s why in Maestro’s company, when meeting a client, the first question is:
“Tell me which bath you prefer – hotter and harsher or softer and more humid?” I want to emphasize once again – both ONE and the OTHER type of bathhouse, from our point of view, has a place to exist. As do the people who will use this bathhouse.
It is important for us to correctly “make a diagnosis” at the initial stage of communication in order to give you competent, professional advice and then, knowing your bath preferences, select equipment, materials and everything else that will fully satisfy your aspirations.
Having worked with soapstone for quite a long time, checking all its properties, collecting feedback from our clients, we included this stone in the “frame of our offers”
From soapstone we offer: decorative facing tiles of various textures, stoves (usually from the wonderful manufacturer KASTOR) lined with soapstone slabs, both in the “standard” version and in the “Russian” – closed version of stoves with a door, to obtain a “magic” , soft steam. Another of our proposals is cladding made of soapstone magnesite in Krasnodar (talc chlorite).
By the way, if you decide to arrange your own bathhouse, we can custom-make a product such as soapstone tiles in Krasnodar.
Soapstone is a natural building and decorative material, a rock of metamorphic origin, consisting of talc (40–50%), magnesite (40–50%) and chlorite (5–8%); mineral and chemical composition are not constant. Gray stone. In nature it occurs in the form of stratified deposits. In addition to the name soapstone, soapstone, soapstone (literal translation of English Soapstone), wen or steatite (French Stéatite) are often used. There are also a number of names based on the area of application: stove stone, pot stone, “tulikivi” (Finnish for “hot stone”)
The largest deposits are located in Eastern Finland. These deposits have been developed since the time when Finland was part of the Russian Empire. The bulk of the stone is currently mined in this area. Soapstone deposits are also being developed in Russia, India, the USA and Brazil.
Medicinal and magical properties: in Finnish and Karelian medicine, tulikivi is still used for the prevention and treatment of radiculitis, sciatica, and osteochondrosis. For traumatic injuries to joints, etc. Based on the healing properties of Karelian soapstone, a mineral heating pad has been developed in the form of polished tiles measuring 10×10–15×15 cm and 2–3 cm thick. It is convenient for use at home. The heating pad is heated for 20–30 minutes in a pan of water or in the oven, then the heated tile is applied to the sore spot and held until it cools down. If necessary, the soapstone warmer is heated again. The stone does not lose its healing properties with repeated use.
