Silicon metal commodity Critical Material

Silicon supplied in metallic commercial form as a raw-material commodity, including metallurgical material that can undergo further purification for semiconductor and solar applications. USGS distinguishes silicon metal from ferrosilicon and describes silica as its source material. This record is distinct from the silicon element, quartz or other silica phases, silicate minerals, ferrosilicon alloys and silicones. Grade-specific trade categories are not treated as a universal purity definition. The designations preserve the silicon-metal scope in the original EU 2024 lists. Diatom silicification and microbial removal of impurities from quartz do not establish production or recovery of silicon metal; no microbial mechanism is asserted here.

Record source: data/records/silicon-metal.yaml