Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Hurricane Helene’s Impact on Semiconductor Production

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One big storm, Hurricane Helene, hit the US. It may mess up the tech industry. Helene hit a quartz mining town in North Carolina. This town gives special quartz for making chips used in phones and data centres worldwide.

The storm hit the town hard. More than 200 people died. Many folks lost homes and power. Even the quartz mines in the mountains were hit by floods.

The quartz from Spruce Pine helps make important chip parts called quartz crucibles. These containers can handle super hot temperatures needed to melt silicon for chips. The storm closed the mining companies but they hope to start up again soon.


Vocabulary List:

  1. Hurricane /ˈhɜːrɪkeɪn/ (noun): A large storm characterized by strong winds and heavy rain typically forming over tropical waters.
  2. Quartz /kwɔːrts/ (noun): A hard crystalline mineral composed of silicon and oxygen commonly used in electronics.
  3. Crucibles /ˈkruːsɪbəlz/ (noun): Containers used for melting and testing materials at high temperatures.
  4. Silicon /ˈsɪlɪkən/ (noun): A chemical element widely used in semiconductors and electronics.
  5. Floods /flʌdz/ (noun): Overflow of water onto land that is normally dry often resulting from heavy rainfall.
  6. Mining /ˈmaɪnɪŋ/ (noun): The process of extracting valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth.

How much do you know?


Where did Hurricane Helene hit?
Florida
North Carolina
California
Texas


What industry may be affected by Hurricane Helene?
Agriculture
Tech
Fashion
Automotive


What special material is mined in the town hit by the hurricane?
Diamonds
Gold
Quartz
Silver


What are the chip parts called that are made using the quartz from Spruce Pine?
Silicon Wafers
Quartz Crucibles
Aluminum Casings
Graphite Heat Sinks


How many people died in the town hit by the hurricane?
50
100
150
200


What element is melted to make chips in the quartz crucibles?
Aluminum
Copper
Silicon
Gold


Hurricane Helene hit a quartz mining town in Florida.


The quartz from Spruce Pine is used to make computer chips.


The storm caused flooding in the quartz mines in the mountains.


The mining companies closed due to the storm.


Quartz crucibles can handle high temperatures for melting gold.


The mining companies hope to resume operations soon.


Hurricane Helene hit a quartz mining town in .


The quartz from Spruce Pine helps make chip parts called quartz .


More than people died in the town hit by the hurricane.


The quartz mines in the mountains were hit by .


The storm made the mining companies their operations.


The mining companies are hoping to start up soon.

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