mineral

Silicon (Industrial Grade)

Elemental Silicon (Si)

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Silvery-grey with a blue metallic sheen; Luster: Metallic; Crystal structure: Diamond cubic; Specific Gravity: 2.33 (relatively light for a metallic-looking substance).

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale
Color: Silvery-grey with a blue metallic sheen
Luster: Metallic

Identified July 5, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Produced by the reduction of high-purity silica (quartz) with carbon in electric arc furnaces at temperatures over 1900°C. While silicon is the second most abundant element in Earth's crust, it does not occur naturally in its elemental form.

Uses & applications

Primarily used in the production of aluminum alloys as a strengthening agent, in the chemical industry for silicones, and (when further refined) in solar cells and semiconductors for electronics.

Geological facts

The specimen's light weight (low density) and lack of streak (high hardness) distinguish it from native metals or heavy ores like galena. It is often mistaken for a natural mineral or meteorite by collectors.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its unusually light weight given its metallic appearance, high hardness (it will scratch glass), and brittle, conchoidal fracture pattern. Common in rocky fill or near industrial sites.