Question: Which famous inventor’s electric motor sparked a boom in demand for Spruce Pine’s mica?
Answer: Mica’s value as an insulator in Thomas Edison’s electric motor triggered a mica boom, and the district eventually became a national center of mica mining. The area’s high-quality mica later insulated radio tubes and was deemed a strategic mineral during World War II. Descendants of the early operations still produce mica products, including for the space industry.
