I've been wondering this too. If I recall correctly, marble is about a 3 on the Mohs Scale (compared to soapstone's 1, and granite's 7ish).

Does marble scratch if you run a knife tip across it? Does it ding at all if you bang something like a glass salad dressing bottle on it? Can it be sanded/repaired by the homeowner?

Francy

I've had marble counters since October. They're honed and well sealed and haven't stained in spite of me. They do etch, no getting around it. Honestly? I got my first etch (from guacamole) on day 2 and I was a wreck. Jeez Louise, I thought to myself - I made the wrong decision. This stuff is gonna look terrible in no time. Well, I'm here to tell you that my love affair with my Carrara marble counters is as strong as ever. There are several etch marks, and I defy you to find them. I don't notice them anymore. I don't knock myself out anymore about a pristine look in my kitchen. (God knows I didn't have a pristine kitchen before -- I'm 59, why start now??) There are no scratches, but it will scratch if you drag something rough-edged on it. I've got ogee edges and no nicks, not even from the barstools that my husband likes to KLUNK when he gets up. Wine bottles are opened and used on the counter every night - no dings. It was sealed twice initially, but I didn't get the "hang" of sealing correctly until I did it a third time about a month later. I won't have to seal it again for a long, long time. Everything cleans up beautifully.

My marble pleases me every time I walk into the room. This is true love. I have some decision-regrets in our renovation, but not about my marble, Sisters.

While talc is 1 on Moh's scale (can be easily scratched by a findernail) and carving soapstone may be of this hardness, architectural soapstone seems to be harder, judging from my recent attempts to scratch some M Teixeira samples with my fingernail. On Moh's scale I would judge them to vary from 2 (can be scratched by a fingernail) to harder (3 can be scratched by a copper coin). Most could be scratched by a copper tubing T (I didn't use a penny for testing due to alloying). Belvedere and one other I can't read the name of right now due to oil overspill weren't scratched by the copper.

kas

The unreadable label became more readable right side up: Light Venata.

kas

kaseki -- LOL!

What about chipping around the edges, especially around the sink?

It's so hard to decide! One day my mind is made up and the next I'm leaning the other way! I'm sure many of you know what that's like!

Anybody know which stone is harder?

There are also different types of amrble and soapstone with different hardnesses. But do realize that you are talking about sufaces that have been in chemistry labas as well as homes on the one had and in homes, floors of public vuildings and carved into syayues and standing in sun and rain on the other. How tough is your kitchen, really? Is a pot bang possible or something you seem to be able to do a couple of times every meal? Really?

Etching happens, but sealed marble won't stain. Soapstone will scratch and either could chip if you whack on it enough. My fabricator suggested a rolled edge to lessen the possibility of a chip on the edge of the marble. Makes sense.

Either one can be sanded and buffed to soften the chip, but if you;re erally worried, get something like Cambrian Black granite. My fabricator and the stone yard guy were unable to chip off a corner of the slab I had selected so I could take a sample with me. They had a hammer and were trying to break it.