Abstract: A lightweight refractory foam primarily of silica can be formed from a phase-separable silicate glass such as borosilicate glass, by melting the glass, foaming the glass at elevated temperatures, phase-separating the silicate foam glass at elevated temperatures to form a silica-rich phase and a silica-poor phase and leaching said phase-separated foam glass with warm water or dilute acids to remove substantially the silica-poor phase. The resulting refractory foam consists essentially of a silica network. The density of the refractory cellular product may be from about 0.075 grams per cubic centimeter to 0.5 grams per cubic centimeter, or higher, as desired. The refractory cellular product has a very low coefficient of expansion and high chemical durability.