When the AdvanChips, Inc., factory in San Juan suffered an explosion due to improper storage of chemicals, Jorge Rivera was thought to be dead. But, as the fires died down and rescue crews went in, they found him, laying on the ground and breathing, but unconscious. Everyone chalked it up to an amazing miracle or a miraculous circumstance.

What really happened was his ubergene activated. His body had become sand and remained that way through most of the conflagration and reverted when he finally fell unconscious. When he found that a similar thing happened to his co-worker, Isabella Olmero, he contacted her.

The pair secretly learned about their powers and learned how to control them. Then, they decided to put their powers to their best use - to gain wealth. But, the life of a superthief in San Juan was not what they thought it would be at first. Most of the people were poor. The rest were able to have security guards or call upon the police. Still, they used their ill-gotten gains to supplement their meager incomes as factory workers.

Then came the day that Isabella found a note in a trash can. Jorge knew that better things were in store for himself and told his partner in crime of a plan to find two others with powers and motive. The four would steal the airship and find richer hunting grounds.

Although he is the leader of the group, Silicio has only one quality that fits that role well: he has a forceful personality. He's the one that came up with the scheme to steal the dirigible from the U.S. Air Force. And it's his just due, in his opinion, to be the leader of the group.

"Here's sand in your eye."

When Silicio activates his powers he becomes particulate silica, i.e., sand. He can control the fluidity and degree of compactness of the sand which allows him to move about quickly, seep through thin cracks, or allow an attack to flow through him rather than at him. He's moderately strong and tough and can cause problems to lower powered superheroes by himself.

Jorge likes to wear fairly simple clothing - jeans and a T-shirt most of the time. When he activates his powers, his physical features become less distinct and he appears as a sand man with no costume.