The Quartz Corp
The Quartz Corp is a joint venture mining and mineral processing company that produces ultra-pure quartz (99.999% SiO2) from deposits in Spruce Pine, NC and Drag, Norway, supplying semiconductor, solar photovoltaic, and optical fiber manufacturers globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What The Quartz Corp does
The Quartz Corp is a privately held mining and mineral processing joint venture, formed in 2011 between France-based Imerys SA and Norway-based Norsk Mineral, that extracts and refines ultra-high-purity quartz (99.999% SiO2) from two geologically unique pegmatite deposits — Spruce Pine in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (US operations dating to 1957) and Drag in Nordland, Norway (operations dating to 1914). Its core products are High Purity Quartz Sand and fused Quartz Crucibles used as critical inputs in the Czochralski process for growing silicon ingots, alongside co-products Feldspar and Mica. End-customers are enterprise manufacturers in three verticals: semiconductor chip fabrication, photovoltaic/solar ingot production, and optical fiber manufacturing. The company reports between 350 and 430+ employees across operations in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, with an Asia Sales Support Office in Shanghai serving the China-led solar PV market.
The business model is industrial B2B commodity supply: TQC sells processed mineral inputs under quote-based, specification-driven contracts tied to purity grade and volume, with a multi-year contract cadence. Revenue derives primarily from high-purity quartz sales, secondarily from feldspar and mica, and supplemented by R&D collaborations with institutions such as NTNU and SINTEF. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales supported by technical sales and R&D teams, with no channel intermediaries and no consumer-facing marketing. The company's competitive position rests on proprietary processing techniques, the irreplaceable geological character of its ore bodies, significant capital intensity (a planned ~1 billion NOK Drag expansion), and a vertically integrated value chain from extraction through refinement, certification, and global delivery.
The company's recent operating history includes a major capital build-out completed at Drag in 2018 (Siva 69M NOK, Enova 19.6M NOK, and TQC's own 90M NOK), the 2023 purchase of the Siva-built industrial property, a complete shutdown and phased restart of Spruce Pine operations following Hurricane Helene in September 2024, and two rounds of workforce reductions in 2025 (50 of 230 Norway employees laid off in March, then a broader company-wide cut in September) in response to a stated "substantial decline in demand" — primarily linked to solar PV inventory oversupply. TQC was recognized in 2024 as Gazelle Company by Dagens Næringsliv and as Business of the Year in the Salten region by Kunnskapsparken Bodø.
The Quartz Corp firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Quartz Corp
- Legal name
- The Quartz Corp AS
- Website
- https://thequartzcorp.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Quartz Corp is a joint venture mining and mineral processing company that produces ultra-pure quartz (99.999% SiO2) from deposits in Spruce Pine, NC and Drag, Norway, supplying semiconductor, solar photovoltaic, and optical fiber manufacturers globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Quartz Corp industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Minerals / High Purity Quartz
- NAICS
- Industrial Sand Mining (212322), Sand, Gravel, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining and Quarrying (21232), Ground or Treated Mineral and Earth Manufacturing (327992)
- SIC
- Mining & Quarrying Of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) (1400), Abrasive, Asbestos & Misc Nonmetallic Mineral Prods (3290)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Silica & Quartz Mining (Industrial Silica Sand, High-Purity Quartz) (IMAKAGAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Silica (Quartz, Fumed, Precipitated) (IMAEAFAD), Industrial Sand (Silica Sand for Foundry, Glass & Industrial Uses) (IMAKAHAK), Feldspar & Nepheline Syenite (IMAEAFAM)
Keywords
Where The Quartz Corp is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
The Quartz Corp business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- High Purity Quartz Sales: Primary revenue from extraction, processing, and sale of ultra-high purity quartz sand and crucibles to semiconductor, solar, and optical fiber manufacturers globally
- Feldspar and Mica Products: Secondary revenue stream from co-produced minerals including feldspar and mica, sold to large manufacturing companies for use in everyday products
- Research and Development Services: R&D collaboration with research institutions and customers on advanced material development
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Industrial B2B pricing - High Purity Quartz |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Quartz Corp product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Quartz Corp extracts, processes, and sells ultra-pure quartz sand (99.999% pure silica, SiO2) from unique pegmatite ore deposits in Spruce Pine, North Carolina (USA) and Drag, Norway. The high-purity quartz is sold to manufacturers of quartz crucibles and directly used in semiconductor wafer fabrication, solar photovoltaic silicon ingot production (Czochralski process), and optical fiber manufacturing. Feldspar and mica are co-produced and sold as secondary products.
Product overview
The Quartz Corp is a mining and mineral processing company that operates across a value chain spanning extraction, advanced processing, packaging, and testing of ultra-pure minerals. Its core product is High Purity Quartz Sand (99.999% pure silica, SiO2), processed using proprietary separation techniques from ore deposits in Spruce Pine, North Carolina and Drag, Norway. The company's quartz serves as the critical input for manufacturing fused Quartz Crucibles used in the Czochralski process to grow silicon ingots for semiconductors and solar PV. The processing of raw ore also yields co-products including Feldspar and Mica. The company safeguards the entire value chain from ore extraction through refinement, certification, and global delivery to customers in the semiconductor, solar energy, and optical fiber industries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- High Purity Quartz Sand Ultra-pure silica sand at 99.999% purity (SiO2), processed using proprietary separation techniques from ore deposits in Spruce Pine, North Carolina and Drag, Norway. Sold as a critical raw material to manufacturers producing quartz crucibles used in semiconductor chip fabrication, photovoltaic silicon ingots, and optical fiber cables.
- Quartz Crucibles Fused quartz crucibles manufactured from The Quartz Corp's high-purity quartz sand, serving as a critical component in the Czochralski process for growing silicon ingots used in semiconductor wafer production and photovoltaic cell manufacturing. One crucible can pull approximately 8 ingots over a 400-hour period.
- Feldspar Feldspar extracted and processed as a co-product alongside quartz from the company's mining and mineral processing operations in Spruce Pine, NC and Drag, Norway. Sold to large manufacturing companies for use in everyday consumer goods and industrial applications.
- Mica Mica extracted and processed as a co-product alongside quartz from the company's mining and mineral processing operations. Sold to large manufacturing companies for use in industrial applications and consumer goods.
Quantifiable outcome
- 99.999% pure silica achieved through proprietary processing
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The Quartz Corp
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Quartz Corp technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
The Quartz Corp partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)coreCollaboration on the SolCru project with the Department of Materials Technology to develop advanced chemical compositions for quartz crucibles, combining expertise to drive innovation and sustainability.
- SINTEF IndustricorePartnership with SINTEF Industri on the SolCru project to develop techniques increasing viscosity and thermal stability of quartz for solar industry applications.
- Hurricane Helene Response NetworkminorCollaboration with local, regional, and national response entities during Hurricane Helene recovery, including US Forest Service and local churches.
- KobberløpetminorMain partner for Kobberløpet ski race event, contributing to regional community engagement and local traditions.
- Hamarøy kommunecoreGrowth mobilization project partnership to leverage TQC's expansion plans for economic development. Includes efficient regulatory planning for industrial areas and port expansion.
- FK Bodø GlimtcoreThree-year main partner and sustainability ambassador agreement (2024-2026) with Norway's successful football club. Partnership includes support for women's football initiative and participation in TQC's annual volunteer day.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Quartz Corp competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sibelco: Belgium-based global industrial minerals company and one of the world's leading producers of high-purity quartz alongside TQC. Directly competes in supplying ultra-pure silica for semiconductor, solar, and optical fiber applications.
- JSC Kyshtym Quartz (Russian Quartz): Russian producer of high-purity quartz for semiconductor crucibles and solar applications. Direct competitor serving overlapping customer base in solar PV and semiconductor ingot production.
- Donghai Pacific Quartz: China-based high-purity quartz producer serving the Asian semiconductor and solar industries. Competes with TQC directly for crucible-grade HPQ supply to Chinese manufacturers.
- Mineracao Curimbaba: Brazilian industrial minerals producer extracting and processing quartz, feldspar, and related minerals. Comparable vertical integration and downstream customer base in industrial mineral markets.
Broad incumbents
- Imerys SA: French-listed global industrial minerals conglomerate and 50% parent of TQC. Operates across many mineral categories beyond high-purity quartz; comparable end-market exposure but broader, more diversified portfolio.
- Covia Holdings: US-based producer of industrial silica sand and minerals. Overlaps with TQC in industrial mineral extraction and processing, though primarily serves oil and gas/frac and construction markets rather than HPQ.
- U.S. Silica Holdings: Major North American industrial silica sand producer serving oil and gas, glass, and specialty end markets. Comparable mineral extraction and processing capabilities but focused on lower-purity industrial sand rather than HPQ.
- Badger Mining Corporation: US-based industrial sand producer supplying frac, foundry, glass, and filtration markets. Similar industrial mineral processing expertise and customer overlap in foundry/glass applications, though not a high-purity quartz specialist.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Quartz Corp social profiles
Digital presenceThe Quartz Corp financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Quartz Corp leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
The Quartz Corp funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Quartz Corp M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Quartz Corp
What does The Quartz Corp do?
The Quartz Corp extracts, processes, and sells ultra-pure quartz sand (99.999% pure silica, SiO2) from unique pegmatite ore deposits in Spruce Pine, North Carolina (USA) and Drag, Norway. The high-purity quartz is sold to manufacturers of quartz crucibles and directly used in semiconductor wafer fabrication, solar photovoltaic silicon ingot production (Czochralski process), and optical fiber manufacturing. Feldspar and mica are co-produced and sold as secondary products.
Is The Quartz Corp a public or private company?
The Quartz Corp is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was The Quartz Corp founded?
The Quartz Corp was founded in 2011. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is The Quartz Corp based?
The Quartz Corp is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does The Quartz Corp make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. High Purity Quartz Sales are the primary driver. The others are feldspar and Mica Products and research and Development Services.
Who are The Quartz Corp's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sibelco, JSC Kyshtym Quartz (Russian Quartz), Donghai Pacific Quartz and Mineracao Curimbaba. Broad incumbents are Imerys SA, Covia Holdings, U.S. Silica Holdings and Badger Mining Corporation.
Does The Quartz Corp have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Quartz Corp.
What industry is The Quartz Corp in?
The Quartz Corp's product category is Industrial Minerals / High Purity Quartz. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKAGAK, Silica & Quartz Mining (Industrial Silica Sand, High-Purity Quartz), with a secondary code of IMAEAFAD, Silica (Quartz, Fumed, Precipitated). Its NAICS code is 212322 and its SIC code is 1400.