What are the main characteristics of talc that is used in talcum powder?

It is a translucent mineral with a pearly luster. It is the softest known mineral and is assigned a hardness of 1 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Talc is a monoclinic mineral with a sheet structure similar to the micas. Talc has perfect cleavage that follows planes between the weakly bonded sheets.

What is a talc used for?

Talc has many uses in cosmetics and other personal care products. For example, it may be used to absorb moisture, to prevent caking, to make facial makeup opaque, or to improve the feel of a product.

How do you identify talc?

Talc is easily distinguishable by its extreme softness, color is white, colorless, pale to dark green, or yellowish to brown. Crystals are rare; it is most commonly found in foliated, fibrous, or massive aggregates.

What kind of mineral is talc?

silicate mineral
talc, common silicate mineral that is distinguished from almost all other minerals by its extreme softness (it has the lowest rating [1] on the Mohs scale of hardness). Its soapy or greasy feel accounts for the name soapstone given to compact aggregates of talc and other rock-forming minerals.