Spruce Pine Quartz: The Unexpected Bottleneck in Semiconductor Manufacturing?

The internet whispers a claim: all semiconductor and solar PV manufacturing relies on ultra-pure quartz from Spruce Pine, North Carolina. This quartz makes crucibles holding molten silicon, later formed into chips. Its purity prevents contamination. While Spruce Pine quartz isn't irreplaceable, alternatives are underdeveloped, inferior, or costly. Disrupting supply wouldn't halt semiconductor production entirely, but would lower yields and raise costs. The industry acknowledges this bottleneck, developing new sources and crucible materials. The real story isn't just Spruce Pine, but quartz crucibles' limitations on silicon ingot manufacturing. A superior alternative would be a major advance.