The great mass of the earth was shown to be composed of metals in combination with oxygen, to which they are united in one, two, or more definite and unalterable proportions, forming compounds which are termed metallic oxides, and these, again, combined with oxides of other bodies, essentially different to metals, namely, carbon and Silicium.
"Familiar Letters of Chemistry"
Justus Liebig
Before being forwarded to Tampa Town, the iron ore, smelted in the great furnaces of Goldspring, and put in contact with coal and Silicium heated to a high temperature, was transformed into cast-iron.
"The Moon-Voyage"
Jules Verne