How a tiny town hit by Helene could upend the global semiconductor chip industry
Virtually all of the world's supply of a mineral that is critical to semiconductor production comes from one tiny town in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains that has been devastated by Hurricane Helene. Spruce Pine, North Carolina has no running water or electricity, more than a week after Helene ripped through the town of 2,200. Roads and railways in and out of the area are severely damaged, according to local officials. Mines in Spruce Pine produce the world's purest form of quartz, which plays a central role in chip manufacturing. Now, the town's exceedingly valuable supply of high-purity quartz is at risk, threatening to cripple the $600 billion global semiconductor industry. T
