Devastation from Hurricane Helene could bring semiconductor chipmaking to a halt | CNN Business

Aftermath of Hurricane Helene seen near Spruce Pine, North Carolina, which supplies much of the world's high-purity quartz for semiconductor manufacturing. New York CNN — The devastation in North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene could have serious implications for a niche — but extremely important — corner of the tech industry. Tucked in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the outskirts of Spruce Pine, a town of less than 2,200, are two mines that produce the world’s purest quartz, which formed in the area some 380 million years ago. The material is a key component in the global supply chain for semiconductor chips, which power everything from smartphones and cars to medical devices and solar panels. But operations at the facilities have halted since Hurricane Helene tore through the southeast United States over the weekend, causing historic flooding and landslides, cutting off roads and power and endangering millions of residents. Sibelco and The Quartz Corp, the companies that separa...