(ZeroHedge)—In March, a Wharton professor who studies artificial intelligence and start-ups claimed on X, “The modern economy rests on a single road in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The road runs to the two mines that are the sole supplier of the quartz required to make the crucibles needed to refine silicon wafers.”
Ethan Mollick noted at the time, “There are no alternative sources known” if supply disruptions were seen in Spruce Pines.
The modern economy rests on a single road in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The road runs to the two mines that is the sole supplier of the quartz required to make the crucibles needed to refine silicon wafers.
There are no alternative sources known. From Conway’s Material World: pic.twitter.com/mYfrfub8dw
— Ethan Mollick (@emollick) March 9, 2024
Fast-forward to this past weekend across the Western North Carolina area, where a major disaster continues to unfold after tropical system Helene dumped torrential rains and unleashed devastating floods that pulverized entire towns, destroyed roads, highways, and bridges, and left tens of thousands without power.
Absolutely horrid photos coming out of Spruce Pine, NC. right now, as buddies of mine are on the ground helping #Helene victims. pic.twitter.com/35fDndq7iy
— Carolina Patriot (@ACarolinaGuy) September 29, 2024
I have asked for pictures on facebook. I joined the Let’s Talk #SprucePine #NC page. 12K+ Hundreds of families have loved ones unaccounted for…the roads into Spruce Pine are not passable. Bridges are collapsed. People are scared and desperate. Spruce Pine needs the… pic.twitter.com/FttEYIW3Ai
— Gretchen Smith🇺🇸 (@MAGAgpsmith) September 28, 2024
The CSX rail between Erwin, TN and Spruce Pine, TN is unrecognizable, and in some cases, completely missing, lost to the floods created by #Helena. Could take months to open the route again. Terrible thing to happen. pic.twitter.com/QqhrsBDrPz
— Jags Board Game & Movie Guy (@MoviePaul) September 28, 2024
I have friends that live in flood warning areas of Winston Salem NC & Newport & the ones im really worried about live not far out of Spruce Pine NC & cant get a hold of them yet.
Not sure how updated below info is pic.twitter.com/yQJ4yC2WtK— ⊕ֿֿֿֿBliTzer ツ (@blitzer850) September 28, 2024
Just took this pic moments ago from Fox… just short of two *feet* of rain at Spruce Pine… pic.twitter.com/vZySfAvmw7
— 4CatDoc (@4CatDoc) September 30, 2024
Back to Mollick. He shared with his followers a detailed list of the top miners in Spruce Pine, highlighting Sibelco North America, known for producing ultra-high-purity quartz used in refined silicon wafers.
Really nice deep dive into the reasons why Spruce Pine is so important. https://t.co/OdUODRnDOB
— Ethan Mollick (@emollick) March 9, 2024
As of Monday morning, Mollick’s worst fears could be realized as Google Traffic data shows road closures around the Sibelco mining facilities and across the entire region.
A 2018 note from Wired shows just how critical Spruce Pines area mines are for semiconductor production: “A fire in 2008 at one of the main quartz facilities in Spruce Pine for a time all but shut off the supply of high‑purity quartz to the world market, sending shivers through the industry.”
Earlier this year, Tom’s Hardware cited Mollick’s X posts, saying the Wharton professor “provides an excerpt from Conway’s Material World, which discusses the probable “end of computer chip manufacture as we know it,” should something untoward happen at Spruce Pine or in the skies above it.”
Here’s what folks on X are saying about Spruce Pines…
Almost every crystalline silicon photovoltaic module and semiconductor chip made in the world today relies on this mining district in western North Carolina. https://t.co/0U6fAapjiN pic.twitter.com/FiURjlLQoW
— Dustin Mulvaney (@DustinMulvaney) September 29, 2024
Oh joy, what a great time to find out that a massive supply bottleneck for computer chips and solar panels exists right by a river in western North Carolina… https://t.co/CL3AyFH44w pic.twitter.com/gbdlk7BKQQ
— Sean – Alberta Nuclear (@AlbertaNuclear) September 29, 2024
How do I express that I’m concerned about the people of western NC and I’m also concerned about the potential future global economic disaster because Spruce Pine is the sole producer of ultra pure Quartz for crucibles that all global semiconductor production relies on? pic.twitter.com/pcg4bonoJn
— Fossil Locator (@FossilLocator) September 29, 2024
There has been no confirmation from the miner about any disruption. Well, not as of Monday morning.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that fiat currencies across the globe, including the U.S. Dollar, are under attack. Paper money is losing its value, translating into insane inflation and less value in our life’s savings.
Genesis Gold Group believes physical precious metals are an amazing option for those seeking to move their wealth or retirement to higher ground. Whether Central Bank Digital Currencies replace current fiat currencies or not, precious metals are poised to retain or even increase in value. This is why central banks and mega-asset managers like BlackRock are moving much of their holdings to precious metals.
As a Christian company, Genesis Gold Group has maintained a perfect 5 out of 5 rating with the Better Business Bureau. Their faith-driven values allow them to help Americans protect their life’s savings without the gimmicks used by most precious metals companies. Reach out to them today to see how they can streamline the rollover or transfer of your current and previous retirement accounts.
Kamala Endorses Dockworkers Strike That Union Boss Boasted Would ‘Cripple’ the Economy
by Daily Wire
Vice President Kamala Harris sided Wednesday with dockworkers who launched a massive strike this week that threatens to cripple the economy. “This strike is about fairness,” Harris said. “Foreign-owned shipping companies have made record profits and executive compensation has grown. The Longshoremen, who play a vital role transporting essential goods…
‘Drill, Baby, Drill’: Energy Costs To Drop ‘50%,’ Trump Tells Dave Ramsey
by Headline USA
Former President Donald Trump pledged, if re-elected, to cut energy costs “50%” during a recent interview with financial expert Dave Ramsey that was released on Wednesday. Ramsey, one of the most popular radio hosts in the country, said he had offered to talk with Vice President Kamala Harris, as well,…
Do You Want Your Prepper Bar Shipped to Your Home or Added to Your IRA?
by Sponsored Post
The massive shift of money being exchanged for physical precious metals started in 2022 with Central Banks across the globe breaking records. The frenzy caught on with large investment firms and financial institutions like BlackRock and JPMorgan in 2023. 2024 has been the year of regular citizens making the same…
Byron Donalds Brings Receipts, Shocks “The Breakfast Club” That Kamala Cause the Inflation Crisis
by Louder With Crowder
The Dems would be nothing without this country’s most ignorant voting base. And as you likely know, had it not been for Kamala’s two tie-breaking votes, you would have more cash in your wallet. But because she believed the government could somehow spend its way out of inflation, she is…
Biden to Stay Out of Port Strike as Trade Flows Halt, Union Boss Threatens to ‘Cripple’ Economy
by Just The News
The White House has remained firm in its position that it will not intervene in negotiations between port workers and dock employers as trade flows screech to a halt and the lead union boss threatens to “cripple” the economy less than 35 days before the presidential election. A general strike…
Celebrity Jeweler Goes Viral Tossing Cash After Selling Anti-Trump Chain
by Headline USA
A popular celebrity jeweler went viral for endorsing President Donald Trump in an unconventional way: selling his anti-Trump gold pendant and dramatically tossing the cash into the air in Times Square. Maksud Agadjani, owner of TraxNYC, had previously collaborated with actor George Lopez on the creation of the pendant, which…
Launching the RIGHT REPORT to Fight the Real Enemies
by Publius
According to Ecclesiastes 10:2, A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left. The implications are stunning when we consider society today. That may not be the original intent of the verse but it clearly applies to the modern world. But what is…
The New Data on Illegal Alien Crime Is Shocking
by John R Lott Jr
(RealClearWire)—The new data on all the criminal noncitizens coming into the U.S. is shocking. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) checks the background of illegal aliens they have in custody. But, the administration’s letter to Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) shows that as of July 21, 2024, ICE let 435,719…
Exposing the Multi-Front Warfare Against American Freedom Through the United Nations
by Liberty Sentinel
In this episode of The Sentinel Report, host Alex Newman covers the latest news, including outrage as the U.S. Department of Justice defends the United Nations’ staffers who collaborated in Hamas’ terror. Next up, Alex invites Ken Abramowitz, the author of “The Multifront War: Defending America From Political Islam, China,…
Months After Becoming a Major Abortion Provider, Struggling CVS May Have to Dismantle Company
by Western Journal
There is absolutely no joy to be had when news breaks that more people could be facing joblessness under the Biden/Harris administration. But there is absolute joy to be had when news breaks that it could become that much harder to murder unborn children. Many Christians and pro-lifers are caught…
