Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Ad image

Hurricane Helen disrupted critical chip mining operations in North Carolina.

MONews
2 Min Read

Companies mining high-purity quartz in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, have suspended operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Helen. Quartz is an important component in the chip manufacturing process and is found only in spruce pine.

Two mining companies in the area, Sibelco and The Quartz Corp, confirmed operations were halted due to flooding, power outages and staff displacement. in Statement posted on websiteSibelco confirmed that it had “temporarily suspended operations at the Spruce Pine facility in response to these issues” effective September 26.

We are working closely with local teams to safely resume operations as quickly as possible and are actively working with local authorities and other partners to manage the situation. Our top priority is ensuring the health, safety and well-being of our employees as well as the security of our Spruce Pine facilities.

Spruce Pine is the only natural source of quartz pure enough to serve as a crucible for melting polysilicon. Polysilicon is then used to make silicon wafers, the basis of semiconductors used in cell phones, laptops, solar panels, and more. The 2008 Spruce Pine fire sent “shudders” through the chip industry when mining operations were shut down. According to a report by mad.

It’s too early to tell what impact paused operations will have on the chip manufacturing supply chain, but as we’ve seen in the past, it doesn’t take much to disrupt them.

Share This Article