VIIRS image of Hurricane Helene over the Gulf of Mexico. Source: NASA Earth Observatory – Michala Garrison
Although since downgraded to the a tropical storm, Hurricane Helene has left over 200 dead and hundreds missing as it swept along the Florida Gulf coast since 29 September, and up into Georgia, and western North and South Carolina.
In its path is the North Carolina town of Spruce Pine, also known as Mineral City, because of its pure quartz mining industry. The quality of quartz from Spruce Pine is “exceptionally pure” according to the Smithsonian Magazine. It was formed in an area with almost no water which means it has little to no impurities. It is used to melt polysilicon for the production of silicon wafers.
Shortly after the hurricane made landfall on the Florida Bend, the North Carolina’s county sheriff’s office advised evacuation of the town of 2,000 people. The Belgian mining company, Sibelco and local company Quartz Corp closed down operations a day before the storm hit, bringing more than 2m of rainfall and cutting off power. Some roads are still closed, some have been washed away, and there is no mobile phone service. Some of the mines’ employees are among those reported missing. There has not been any announcement as to when the mines will reopen. CNN reported that it may be several weeks, which could create supply chain shortages. The two companies supply 80%-90% of the world’s high quality quartz.
