Garden State Soapstone offers the highest grade soapstone available from several Brazilian quarries. We only offer the best quality soapstone. Our soapstone is not easily scratched or chipped, no fissures or cracks. Why is everyone being so dismissive? Whether it is a problem or not, the OP was promised a countertop with "no fissures or cracks." She did not get what she paid for. Perhaps she should pay only half the price, and say it was just a natural discount and shouldn't be a problem. Here is a link that might be useful: Garden State site

I am a fabricator. If the fissure or crack proceeds down the edge of the material and it can be snagged by a fingernail then I'd call it a crack. At a minimum I'd expect a warranty from the fabricator against it becoming worse over time. A skilled fabricator or stone repair person could probably make it much less prominent. Iif it's an overhang it should be rodded which you could see by inspecting the underside of the exposed area. Unless he had no other option a good fabricator would've avoided such a prominent negative feature. In my shop at a minimum we would have shown the customer that feature before sawing the slab.

Auburnfan- The rest of the folks that have responded on this have all given you excellent advice... DO NOT SIGN OFF on this issue UNLESS YOU ARE SATISFIED!!! Money Talks and "ca-ca" walks... You will be AMAZED at how much OUTSTANDING service and attention you will receive IF you HAVE NOT released FUNDS on the home. IF what you have is a fissure, take your complaint up with God - he made the stone that way - there's not a whole lot ANY Fabricator can do to make that fissure "go away" - but, we can use penetrating glue to seal and strengthen the fissure - chances are, IF it's a fissure, you nave nothing to worry about structurally. There is, however, the aesthetic issues of - you know it's there, you can see it, you may be able to feel it, it may or may not "bug" you, and you want it "minimalized". This can be done to some extent by surface polsihing the area to remove any lippage that may be present if the fissure opened up during transport/install. Surface polsihing is a skill that has to be aquired - not just anybody can show up and "do the task".... We train people how to do this process at AZ School of Rock, and there are a few other groups that teach this process as well - BUT, regardless of where or how somone has learned this technique - they need to be proficient at it, and IF this is going to be a remedy in your situation, If I were you, I'd want to see and feel some finished examples of what their work looks like - BEFORE they attempt a re-polish on your kitchen. Repolishing is done on seams that are bowed and have lippage as well, so the good news is - there is a positive resolution for your situation. Check out the guy's references, and insist that they are licensed, bonded & insured, AND IF they are members of the MIA and SFA - you should be in really good hands. hope that this helps kevin Kevin M. Padden MIA SFA Fabricator, Trainer & Consultant to the Natural Stone Industry www.azschoolofrock.com Here is a link that might be useful: AZ School of Rock

Just from the photo, it looks like a crack. While fissures can look like cracks, your line is fairly straight, and it is not aligning naturally along and around the mineral deposits the way a fissure would.