Abstract: A process for the production of silicon in a low-shaft electric furnace, in which raw-material blanks are first formed which contain fine-grain silicon dioxide, e.g. in the form of sand, and carbon in excess in respect of the reduction to silicon carbide and the raw-material blanks are introduced into the low-shaft furnance as a charge in mixture with silicon dioxide in lump form. The silicon dioxide in the raw-material moldings is reduced to silicon carbide in an upper part of the low-shaft electric furnace at a temperature of below 1600.degree. C. and coke structure agglomerates are formed from the excess carbon of the raw-material moldings. In a lower part of the low-shaft electric furnace, the silicon dioxide in lump form, is reduced to silicon with silicon carbide and carbon from the coke structure agglomerates at a temperature of above 1600.degree. C., preferably from 1800.degree. to 200.degree. C. The raw-material moldings are formed with bituminous binder containing a fine-particle silica powder.

Abstract: A coating for foundry cores and molds comprising an aqueous suspension of clay, olivine, and sodium tripolyphosphate.