Spruce Pine has the only naturally occurring quartz in the world that’s pure enough to use as a crucible during the chip manufacturing process. In the past, some experts warned

Spruce Pine, North Carolina is home to high-purity quartz mines owned by two companies: Sibelco North America and The Quartz Corp.

One of the two companies that manufacture high-purity quartz used for making semiconductors and other high-tech products from mines in a western North Carolina community severely damaged by Hurricane Helene is operating again.

Two facilities that produce high-purity quartz essential in semiconductors, solar panels, and fiber-optics have been shut down.

The owner of a North Carolina quartz mine that’s a key source for high-purity quartz used in global semiconductor manufacturing said its operations sustained only minor damage in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Two North Carolina facilities that manufacture the high-purity quartz used for making semiconductors, solar panels and fiber optic cables have been shut down by Hurricane Helene.