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Which countries are major producers of silicon minerals?

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A periodic table element square for silicon shows atomic number 14, symbol Si, atomic weight range, electron configuration, and name. Icons indicate it is a solid nonmetal with diamond crystal structure and equal relative strength. Labels explain each property. — silicon Chemical properties of the element silicon.

The largest producers of silicon minerals are China, Russia, Norway, and Brazil.1

While pure silicon is too reactive to be found in nature, it is extremely abundant in Earth's crust, primarily occurring in combination with oxygen as silica (silicon dioxide) or as silicate minerals. These minerals are widely distributed and found in virtually all rocks, sand, clays, and soils.2