A process for the production of shaped articles from silicate material by extrusion and/or pelleting and subsequent annealing is described. In this process, pulverulent layered silicic acids of the general formula H.sub.2 Si.sub.y O.sub.2y+1, in which y is a number from 1.7 to 24, or salts thereof, in which all or some of the H is replaced by at least one cation from the group comprising Li.sup.+, Na.sup.+, K.sup.+, NH.sub.4.sup.+, Ca.sup.2+, Cu.sup.2+, Co.sup.2+, Ni.sup.2+ and Mg.sup.2+, are mixed with water or an organic solvent, the mixture is extruded and/or pelleted to give roll-shaped or tube-shaped pieces and these are then dried and annealed under conditions such that the starting material is chiefly converted into cristobalite and/or tridymite. The same material can also be pressed in a molding tool under pressure. Under these conditions, shaped articles which predominantly consist of cristobalite or tridymite and have a Shore hardness of at least 70 can be obtained.