Talc
Massive Talc

Kanton Graubuenden
SWITZERLAND
Crystalline Talc

Ontario

CANADA
Massive Talc

Balmat

NEW YORK
Diagnostic Features

Hardness: 1
Streak: White
Specific Gravity: 2.8
Cleavage: Present (weak and platy)
Fracture: None
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]

Argonaut Talc Mine
Ludlow

Windsor County
VERMONT