Alkaline earth mono-silicides ({AE}Si, {AE} $=$ Ca, Sr, Ba) are poor metals and their transport properties are not solely determined by the Zintl anion, in contrast to their Zintl-type composition. Their conducting network is formed by the depopulated ${}^{1}_{infty}$[Si$^{2-}$] $pi$-system and {AE}-$d$ states. This justifies the special local coordination of the metal atoms and the planarity of the silicon chains. The low density of carriers seems to be a playground for magnetic instabilities and the triangular prismatic arrangement of {AE} atoms responsible for the observed weak glassy behavior.
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