Supply of High-purity Quartz Hit Hard by Hurricane Helene

The small town of Spruce Pine in the Appalachian mountains is America's sole source of high-quality quartz, supplying the industries that depend on it at a global scale.

The remote community was pummelled with over two feet of rain from Hurricane Helene, resulting in massive flooding that destroyed homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure. The main rail line used to export quartz from the mines sustained severe damage from the storm.