Conspiracy theories have been circulating on the internet about Hurricane Helene and its connection to valuable land deposits of minerals, such as lithium, being seized by the federal government. Some analysts suggest that unusual atmospheric activity during Helene’s track might have created a high voltage capable of “pushing” it towards areas with significant mineral deposits. The motive behind this could be related to these valuable resources.
For instance, North Carolina is reported to have the richest deposit of lithium in the United States, which has led to a $90 million contract from the Department of Defense for Albemarle, a top producer of lithium. Interestingly, BlackRock, an investment management corporation, owns 12 million shares of Albemarle. Prior to Hurricane Helene’s impact, many local residents were protesting against the establishment of lithium mines in their area. Following the hurricane, these same residents have faced devastation and destruction of their homes and livelihoods, potentially paving the way for companies like Albemarle and Piedmont Lithium to gain access to valuable resources without opposition from locals.
Albemarle, a company that has received a $90 million grant from the Department of Defense to advance its domestic mining operations, is one such company now seemingly benefiting from Hurricane Helene’s destruction. The potential for this situation to be another “land grab” reminiscent of a previous incident in Hawaii has led some to question whether Hurricane Helene’s path and behavior were the result of natural processes or something more sinister.
In addition to lithium, high-purity quartz is another valuable mineral found in the mountains of western North Carolina, specifically in Spruce Pine. This mineral is crucial for the production of semiconductors, solar panels, and fiber-optic cables. Unfortunately, two facilities mining and producing high-purity quartz – Sibelco and The Quartz Corp – have been shut down indefinitely due to damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Last year, Sibelco announced a $200 million investment to double the capacity of its high-purity quartz mining and production operation, but that plan is now uncertain due to the hurricane’s impact.
The unusual nature of Hurricane Helene has led many to question if there is more to the story than meets the eye. Some believe that this event could be connected to recent efforts by the Biden administration to create a battery supply chain in the United States to support its electric vehicle (EV) initiatives. As these conspiracy theories continue to circulate, it remains to be seen whether any concrete evidence will emerge to prove or disprove these claims.