Other: Talc possesses a "greasy", slippery feel when rubbed and is extremely friable, breaking off into tiny white flakes. It occurs principally in a silky white form, although green and greyish forms are common.
Identification Tips
1. Talc possesses the same friability, silky feel, and extreme softness as graphite but without the metallic luster and dark colored streak.
2. Talc occurs in metamorphic rocks, principally schists and gneisses.
3. Talc is usually formed by the low-grade metamorphism of mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks.
4. Talc is a frequent companion of serpentine.
5. Your laboratory tables are most likely comprised of sheets of talc as it is resistant to acids and other corrosive chemicals.
6. Talc crystals are platy and resemble mica but are much softer and more friable (breakable).
Crystalline Talc
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
Ludlow
VERMONT
Talc-Schist
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
Marmorera Reservoir
Oberhalbstein
Kanton Graubuenden
SWITZERLAND
Indurated Talc
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
Rowe
MASSACHUSETTS
Indurated Talc
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
Rowe
MASSACHUSETTS
Indurated Talc
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
Rowe
MASSACHUSETTS
Indurated Talc
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
Rowe
MASSACHUSETTS
Crenulated and Kink-Folded Talc
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Malachite and Magnetite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Crenulated and Kink-Folded Talc
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Malachite and Magnetite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Crenulated and Kink-Folded Talc
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Malachite and Magnetite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Crenulated and Kink-Folded Talc
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Malachite and Magnetite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Crenulated and Kink-Folded Talc
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Malachite and Magnetite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Crenulated and Kink-Folded Talc
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Malachite and Magnetite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Crenulated and Kink-Folded Talc
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Malachite and Magnetite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Crenulated and Kink-Folded Talc
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Malachite and Magnetite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Crenulated and Kink-Folded Talc
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Malachite and Magnetite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Crenulated and Kink-Folded Talc
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Malachite and Magnetite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Crenulated and Kink-Folded Talc
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Malachite and Magnetite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Bornite and Chalcopyrite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Bornite and Chalcopyrite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Bornite and Chalcopyrite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Bornite and Chalcopyrite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Bornite and Chalcopyrite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Bornite and Chalcopyrite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Bornite and Chalcopyrite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Bornite and Chalcopyrite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Bornite and Chalcopyrite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Bornite and Chalcopyrite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[With Bornite and Chalcopyrite]
Mineral Hill Mine
Louisville
Carroll County
MARYLAND
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
California Gulch
Sheridan Mining District
Madison County
MONTANA
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
California Gulch
Sheridan Mining District
Madison County
MONTANA
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Crystal Plate]
GEORGIA
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Massive]
Eastern Cliff
Kennack Cove
Kennack
Grade-Ruan
Lizard Peninsula
Cornwall
UNITED KINGDOM
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Massive Lustrous Silver-Green Foliated with Chromite]
Argonaut Talc Mine
Ludlow
Windsor County
VERMONT
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Massive Lustrous Silver-Green Foliated with Chromite]
