Hurricane Helene Halts Operations at Key Quartz Mines in North Carolina

The closure of Spruce Pine mines threatens the global semiconductor supply chain as the region grapples with severe flooding and infrastructure damage.

• Hurricane Helene caused historic flooding and landslides in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, leading to the indefinite closure of two major quartz mines.
• Spruce Pine's quartz is crucial for semiconductor manufacturing, contributing up to 90% of the global supply of high-purity quartz.
• The halted operations at Sibelco and The Quartz Corp have disrupted the local workforce, with many employees unreachable due to power outages and communication issues.
• Experts warn that the shutdown could lead to global chip shortages and price hikes, affecting industries reliant on advanced semiconductors.
• Both mining companies are collaborating with government agencies and recovery operations to assess damage and resume production, but the timeline remains uncertain.

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