TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The vessel comprises fused silica. The ingot comprises primarily silicon which is multicrystalline silicon, monocrystalline silicon, near monocrystalline silicon and/or geometric multicrystalline silicon. The ingot comprises a carbon concentration of 2x 1016 to 5x 1017 atoms/cm3, an oxygen concentration of not greater than 7x 1017 atoms/cm3, and a nitrogen concentration of at least 1x 1015 atoms/cm3. Preferred Method: The step of decanting: removes a top molten layer of feedstock with a higher concentration of impurities than a solidified portion of the feedstock; comprises transferring less than 5 vol.% of the feedstock provided to the first volume to the second volume; comprises flowing the portion of the feedstock into the second volume based on expansion of the feedstock during solidification; and comprises flowing a portion of the feedstock with actuation of a tipping mechanism. The method further comprises melting the feedstock in the first volume.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Components: The side comprises four sides having a square or rectangular shape. The second volume: has a capacity of 0.5-10, preferably 1-2% of a capacity of the first volume, where a spillway partially isolates the first volume and the second volume; and forms a trough-like shape along a length of the side. The side comprises a first height that is less than a second height of the other side. The vessel has a monolithic structure. The vessel comprises a first cross section having a U-shape and a second cross section oriented perpendicular to the first cross section and having: a first vertical segment with a length, a first end and a second end; a S-shape segment rotated 90 degrees in a left direction with a first end connecting to the second end of the first vertical segment and a second end; a second vertical segment with a length of 2-7 times the length of the first vertical segment, a first end connecting to the second end of the S-shape segment and a second end; a first horizontal segment with a length of 0.5-5 times the length of the second vertical segment, a first end connecting to the second end of the second vertical segment and a second end; and a third vertical segment with a length of greater than the length of the second vertical segment and less than the sum of the length of the first vertical segment and the second vertical segment, where a first radius of the S-shape segment comprises 1-5 times a second radius of the S-shape segment. The tipping mechanism: raises or lowers one side of the apparatus; displaces 1-10, preferably 2.5-5 cm; and comprises a hydraulic leg and a sloped surface.