[Rockhounds] attacking quartz without hydrofluoric acid

[DonH]

Lanny wrote:

> Doesn't the semiconductor industry work with silicon, the metal, not 
> silica, the oxide? There must be a whole world of difference in 
> dissolving silicon as compared to dissolving silica (quartz).


But where do they get the silicon?  I think there are quartz mines with 
relatively pure quartz used for semiconductors.  I can't think of too 
many ways besides acids to get the silicon isolated (then again I'm not 
a chemist).

Best,
Don