“A photo from WCCB Charlotte shows Hurricane Helene wreaking havoc on Spruce Pine, North Carolina, as it forces the shutdown of two significant high-purity quartz facilities with no specific reopening date. Sibelco and The Quartz Corp, both crucial to the manufacturing of semiconductors, solar panels, and fiber-optic cables, ceased operations last Thursday. The storm devastated the town, known globally for having the purest natural quartz, and has sent ripples across to East Tennessee.
In response to a surge in global demand, Sibelco had previously expressed plans to invest $200 million to double its Spruce Pine capacity. Now, since Hurricane Helene, the company is focusing on verifying the safety of its employees, some of whom remain uncontactable due to communication challenges and power outages.
The Quartz Corp echoed similar sentiments placing the reopening of operations as their secondary priority, with the safety and well-being of staff as their main concern.
Vince Beiser, the author of “The World in a Grain,” mentioned in an email how Spruce Pine quartz is the backbone of our digital devices. Beiser stated that 70-90% of crucibles, vital for producing silicon chips, are made from Spruce Pine quartz, the purest natural quartz ever discovered.
Meanwhile, city officials are prioritizing the rescue of those left stranded by the storm. Spruce Pine town council member, Wayne Peight, underscored the economic implications of the shutdown. He noted that around three quarters of the townsfolk are interconnected with the mines, making the reopening of the facilities vital for the livelihood of the local community, as many are already living on the edge of poverty.
As such, the speedy recovery and re-operationalization of the mines are vital for Spruce Pine’s economic stability in the harsh months to come.”
