The aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Old Fort, North Carolina. | Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images
Companies mining high-purity quartz in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, have paused operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The quartz is a critical component of the chip-making process — and it’s only found in Spruce Pine.
The two mining companies in the area, Sibelco and The Quartz Corp, confirmed that flooding, power outages, and employee displacement have led them to stop their work. In a statement on its website, Sibelco confirmed that it has “temporarily halted operations at the Spruce Pi...
