North Carolina Floods Disrupt Key Quartz Mining Operations Critical to Global Electronics Industry
Flooding in North Carolina has halted operations at mines in the town of Spruce Pine, a critical source of high-purity quartz essential for manufacturing semiconductors, solar panels, and other electronic components.
The mines, operated by Sibelco and The Quartz Corp., produce the world’s purest quartz sand, a material used in the production of components for smartphones, computers, and fiber-optic cables.
The flooding, caused by Hurricane Helene, has left the town of approximately 2,200 people devastated. Power, water, and communication services remained largely disconnected as of Tuesday, and many roads were still impassable. The mines suspended operations ahead of the storm, and both companies have yet to determine when work will resume.
Spruce Pine’s quartz mines supply around 70% of the high-purity quartz required for the global semiconductor industry, a vital sector for electronics and advanced technology. Michael Vance, a local resident involved in relief efforts, highlighted the town’s global significance.
“I don’t think the nation realizes how this small town is so critical,” Vance said.
Both Sibelco and The Quartz Corp. have been focusing on the safety of their employees, many of whom are displaced or unreachable due to communication challenges. The companies are assessing the damage, but it remains unclear when quartz production will restart.
The semiconductor industry relies heavily on high-purity quartz for the production of silicon wafers, a key component of most modern electronics. While the mines are expected to recover in time, experts predict potential short-term disruptions in the supply chain, which could lead to higher prices for electronic devices. However, stockpiles may help mitigate immediate shortages.
Spruce Pine’s unique quartz deposits, formed 380 million years ago, have made the town a critical part of the global tech supply chain. The current disruption serves as a reminder of how natural disasters can have far-reaching effects on industries crucial to both consumer electronics and national security.
The Washington Post, Wired, the Verge contributed to this report.
