Do you have any scrap soapstone samples? There are chemicals that can be used to remove caulk. (They can be purchased from the big box stores - Home Depot, Lowes, etc.) If you have some scraps, you could test the products on them first and see if you could simply use the chemicals to remove the caulk.

You might also be able to use a razor blade to scrape off the excess. And then use your sanding technique to remove the rest.

If you do re-caulk, you need to remove everything. Caulk does not stick to caulk so you want a clean joint to redo. When you do redo the caulk, make certain to mask the area to protect your countertop. You'll want to remove the masking as the caulk is wet or sometimes it pulls the caulk and makes the caulk edge jagged.

(Disclaimer: I do not have soapstone. Nor have I ever caulked soapstone. However, I have caulked other materials and I always mask first to prevent smearing. I find caulking to be messy business.)

Hello Tia,
Contact your soapstone supplier to confirm this but I don't recommend you use any of the "silicone remover" solvents available. These will break down the silicone and allow the silicone to pass deeper into the stone. A poultice *might* draw the stain out of the stone, but that's a longshot and I'd consult with the very fine folks over at StoneAdvice.Com on this one. It's a discussion forum much like the John Bridge Tile Forum, but for stone fabricators.
Best of luck,
Shaughnn

Here is a link that might be useful: Stone Advice Forum

prickly-I did google silicone caulk removal and came up with suggestions similar to your. Thanks.

Shaughnn-Almost the first thing I did (after "almost" crying) was to contact our soapstone fabricator. They did such an awesome job for us (you can see their silicone caulk joint in the 3rd picture above along the cherry panel). He also suggested a poultice.
I will also check into the StoneAdvice Forum-I'd forgotten about them. Thanks to you as well.
Lee

Razor first. Single-bladed, held in your hand and scrape everywhere you see darkness.

They have an all-natural caulk remover at the Home Depot (near the paint removers) that works pretty well. It doesn't liquefy the silicon, it helps break the bonds holding it to the surface. I had very good success by razoring off what could be razored, applying the remover, waiting a few minutes and washing with a scrubby.

Soapstone is pretty impervious to chemicals. but do try a dab if you have any scrap at all or in an inconspicuous place.

Get the color-matched caulk for your grout and use it instead of silicon.

Straight razor to remove the adhesive on top then sand the rest.

The beauty of soapstone is its dosent abosrb anything and is chemical resistant.

dont worry, easy fix

A reply for future soapstone lovers facing the same challenge. Scrape off the excess with a razor blade. Hold it on a nearly level horizontal angle. If needed, push blade down vertically and gently at the point between the silicone you want to keep and the smear you wish to remove. Then continue with the horizontal scraping. I have personally fabricated and installed over 100 sqft of soapstone in my home and have used silicone for 2 decades as well. Not that it helps, but I’m shocked that your tile contractor didn’t/couldn’t resolve this.