Talc
hydrous magnesium phyllosilicate mineral
(Redirected from Talcum)
Talc (from the Arabic talk) is a silicate mineral, a type of clay. It is the standard for grade 1 in the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. A fingernail can easily scratch it. Talc is composed of hydrated magnesium silicate with the chemical formula Mg3Si4O10(OH)2. Talc and pyrophyllite are very similar, but pyrophyllite may be slightly harder.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Talc.jpg/220px-Talc.jpg)
Talc has a greasy feel and a translucent, soapy look. In loose form, it is the widely used substance known as talcum powder. Steatite, also called soapstone, is a rock with a lot of talc.