Hurricane Helene Halts Mining of Key Mineral in Spruce Pine, Threatening Global Semiconductor Supply Chain

Hurricane Helene has devastated Spruce Pine, North Carolina, home to the world’s only source of high-purity quartz crucial for semiconductor production.  The town has lacked running water and electricity for more than a week after the deadly hurricane. Transportation routes were severely damaged, and mining operations were halted. The disruption threatens the $600 billion global semiconductor industry, as no alternative quartz supply exists. Experts predict a four to six-week delay before operations resume, though recovery depends on road repairs.