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Group 14 elements occur in distinct forms that shape their extraction. Carbon is found as diamond, graphite, coal, and hydrocarbons; industrial carbon comes from coal coking or hydrocarbon cracking, while diamond and graphite have specialized production or purification routes. Silicon is chiefly present in silica and silicates: carbothermic reduction produces metallurgical silicon, whereas the Siemens trichlorosilane process produces electronics-grade material. Germanium is recovered from sources including sphalerite residues and lignite ash. Tin is extracted mainly from cassiterite, and lead chiefly from galena, with roasting, furnace reduction, and subsequent refining used in their production. Lead smelting raises concerns about sulfur dioxide and lead dust. Recycling is an important part of tin and lead supply and can reduce energy demand compared with primary extraction.