Silicon is present in the sun and stars and is one of the main components of a class of meteorites known as aerolites. Constitutes 25.7% of the Earth's crust by weight and is the second most abundant element, exceeded only by oxygen.

It is in large part, such as oxides of silicon and as sand (silica), quartz, rock crystal, amethyst, agate, flint, jasper and opal. Silicon is found in minerals such as asbestos, feldspar, clay and mica.

Pure elemental silicon appeared in the past only scientific interest, while at present there is considerable demand for high purity silicon from the electronics industry, which uses it for its semiconducting properties.

Silicon is a component of glass, ceramics, bricks, cement and some steel.

The production of silicon takes place by heating silica with a high degree of purity, in electric furnaces at temperatures above 1900 °C, using carbon electrodes. The silicon produced via this process is called metallurgical grade silicon (MGS) or silicon metal and is 98% pure. To achieve higher levels of purity required for example to build semiconductors, you need to drill a further purification.

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