This section is from the book "The Home Cyclopedia Of General Information", by Charles Morris. Also available from Amazon: Home Cyclopedia of Necessary Knowledge.
A compound of carbon and silicon, produced in the electric furnace. It was discovered in 1890 in an effort to make artificial diamonds, in which bright blue crystals hard enough to cut precious stones were formed. When powdered it is superior as an abrasive to emery and even to diamond dust. It is now largely produced at Niagara Falls, and widely used as a sharpening agent.
 
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