In a positive development for a western North Carolina community impacted by Hurricane Helene, operations have resumed at one of the two companies producing high-purity quartz crucial for semiconductor manufacturing. Sibelco, located in Spruce Pine, announced the restart of production, with efforts underway to gradually increase output towards full capacity, as reported in a news release. Sibelco CEO Hilmar Rode emphasized the significance of resuming operations and recommencing customer shipments as vital steps in the community’s economic recovery.
Both Sibelco and The Quartz Corp. had temporarily shut down their operations prior to Hurricane Helene’s landfall, which caused substantial damage to Spruce Pine and surrounding Mitchell County. Fortunately, following the storm, the companies confirmed the safety and well-being of all their employees. While Sibelco has resumed production, The Quartz Corp. indicated last week that the timing of their operations’ restart remains uncertain, contingent upon the restoration of local infrastructure.
The high-purity quartz sourced from Spruce Pine plays a critical role worldwide in manufacturing the equipment essential for silicon chip production. Notably, an estimated 70% to 90% of the crucibles used globally for melting down polysilicon, a key component of the chips, are crafted from Spruce Pine quartz, as highlighted by author Vince Beiser in “The World in a Grain.” This specialized quartz is also utilized in the production of solar panels and fiber-optic cables.
A council member from Spruce Pine recently noted that a significant portion of the town’s population maintains a direct connection to the quartz mines, either through employment in the mines, jobs dependent on the mining industry, or having family members working at the facilities. This underscores the integral role that the mining operations play in the local community and economy.
