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The Atlas Obscura Podcast
Spruce Pine, Global Chokepoints, and the Future of Manufacturing
Oct 9, 2024
Ed Conway, a journalist and author focusing on the raw materials that shape civilization, discusses the crucial role of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, in the global supply chain for ultra-pure quartz used in semiconductors. He reflects on the near disaster caused by Hurricane Helene and its implications for manufacturing vulnerabilities. The conversation highlights the urgent need for disaster preparedness, the risks of relying on singular resources, and how challenges in quartz production could spark global innovations and better industry resilience.
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Quick takeaways
- The vulnerability of global supply chains is highlighted by Spruce Pine's reliance on its quartz mines for semiconductor production.
- Hurricane Helene serves as a wake-up call for industries to invest in alternative materials and contingency planning against extreme weather events.
Deep dives
Impact of Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida and subsequently caused extensive damage in several states, particularly in the small town of Spruce Pine, North Carolina. This town, with a population of just over 2,000, experienced around 24 inches of rain, leading to significant concerns about its vital quartz mines. The quartz from Spruce Pine plays a crucial role in the global tech industry by being a primary source for producing polysilicon, essential for computer chips. With the potential for flooding and contamination, the mining operations faced immediate disruption, prompting fears of supply chain issues that could affect a wide range of technologies globally.
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