Oct 8, 2024 - News

N.C. quartz mines assess Helene damage, do not anticipate supply chain hiccups

Alexandria Sands

Flood waters next to a train track — Spruce Pine, North Carolina. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Barbara A. Stagg

High-purity quartz mines in Spruce Pine, which Axios reported on last week, say they do not anticipate supply chain hang-ups as damage assessments continue at their facilities.

Why it matters: Two manufacturers of the world's purest quartz — a rare, key ingredient of the chips that power everything from medical devices to cellphones — are staying offline in the aftermath of Helene.

A short-term closure of the mines may not make much difference, but a long-term closure would threaten the global economy.

The latest: Sibelco and The Quartz Corp confirmed their employees are accounted for and safe. The facilities sustained some damage.

In a statement, Sibelco shared that its damage is minor.
The Quartz Corp stated that, based on the initial inspections, "it would appear that damage is mostly concentrated around ancillary units."
Neither has said when they will resume operations. The timeline may depend on nearby infrastructure reconstruction and road clearing. Parts of western North Carolina are still without electricity, fuel and water.

The big picture: The overall death toll across the Southeast is at least 230 as of Monday evening, the Associated Press reported.

The storm decimated downtown Spruce Pine. Locals hope the valuable mines will help draw more attention and resources to Mitchell County, as much of the immediate aid went to Buncombe.

The intrigue: The Quartz Corp says after the pandemic, it is better prepared to avoid repeat supply chain issues.

What's next: Sibelco says it will restart operations and product shipments "as soon as we can."

Meanwhile, The Quartz Corp is working on a restoration plan for its three plants, a spokesperson tells Axios.

Add Axios on Google

N.C. quartz mines assess Helene damage, do not anticipate supply chain hiccups

More Charlotte stories