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KT Mica: 49 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

The Quartz Corp USA · Facility
Spruce Pine, Mitchell County, NC  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3101955

KT Mica has $5K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 0 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
14
Years on record
1983–2008
Latest incident
Apr 2008
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
49
citations
7
significant & substantial
$4,989
proposed penalties
$4,989
paid to date
100% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $0 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See The Quartz Corp USA's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
83
inspections on record
1,112
inspection hours
4.4
citations per 100 inspection hours
ⓘ This rate is recorded citations divided by MSHA inspection hours, per 100 hours. It reflects inspection effort, not mine size or production.
49 citations across 1,112 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

KT Mica has $5K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 0 contested dockets.

Penalty disposition
ⓘ Differences between proposed and paid penalties reflect both settlements and conference reductions and amounts still owed. Outstanding is the balance currently owed.
$5K
proposed penalties
$5K
current assessed
$5K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
49 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2024-02-05.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.
Violation severity profile
ⓘ Shares are computed over citations that carry the MSHA gravity and negligence coding; a small share of records are uncoded.
14.3%
significant & substantial
4.1%
high negligence or reckless
14.3%
reasonably likely or greater
49.0%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 20.4% low, 75.5% moderate, 4.1% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
Health sampling
ⓘ A sample is a point in time compliance measurement, not an individual exposure history. These figures describe MSHA sampling records and do not establish causation or personal dose.

Metal and nonmetal contaminants (personal samples)
ⓘ Many samples are screening measurements of substances with no applicable exposure limit; they are counted as samples but excluded from every over-limit figure. Over-limit shares use only limit-tested samples.

Last sampled: 2025-12-09
11%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
29
samples
9
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz71 over
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg19
  • Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz2
  • Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (29)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2022-09-28 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.04 1.04 1.00 Mechanic
2025-12-09 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Mechanic
2025-12-09 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2025-12-09 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2025-12-09 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.2 1.09 0.18 Supervisor, Co. Official
2025-06-17 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Mechanic
2025-06-17 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2025-06-17 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2025-06-17 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Supervisor, Co. Official
2024-03-05 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Loader
2024-03-05 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.13 Utility Man
2023-08-02 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bagging Operator
2023-08-02 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Mechanic
2022-09-28 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2022-09-28 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.77 1.25 0.62 Laborer, Bullgang
2019-08-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Supervisor, Co. Official
2019-08-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Mechanic
2019-08-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2013-08-13 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Supervisor, Co. Official
2013-08-13 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bagging Operator
2013-08-13 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bagging Operator
2013-08-13 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Supervisor, Co. Official
2007-06-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.22 0.62 0.35 Bagging Operator
2007-06-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.21 0.94 0.22 Bagging Operator
2004-06-17 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.25 0.86 0.29 Kiln/Dryer Operator
2004-06-17 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Building Repair/Maint.
2004-06-17 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.16 0.65 0.25 Kiln/Dryer Operator
2001-01-31 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.59 10 0.06 Bagging Operator
2001-01-31 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.87 10 0.09 Bagging Operator

Area samples (mill and shop air)

Last sampled: 2026-01-15
6
samples
Show the individual readings (6)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Area sampled
2026-01-15 ASBESTOS BULK, ALL FORMS 0 MP PROD TRANSFER
2025-07-16 ASBESTOS BULK, ALL FORMS 0 MP PROD TRANSFER
2024-04-25 ASBESTOS BULK, ALL FORMS 0 SF ORE TRANSFER
2023-09-13 ASBESTOS BULK, ALL FORMS 0 MP PROD TRANSFER
2022-06-09 ASBESTOS BULK, ALL FORMS 0 SF ORE PROCESSING
2021-06-03 ASBESTOS BULK, ALL FORMS 0 SF ORE TRANSFER
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly. Metal/nonmetal contaminant figures come from MSHA's Personal Health Samples and Area Samples files (public record), updated weekly.

KT Mica recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2016.

Injury rate, 2016
ⓘ This rate is reportable injury cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers per year, computed as 200,000 times cases divided by MSHA operator-reported employee-hours. Cases are injuries MSHA graded degree 01 through 07; accident-only events that hurt no one are excluded, and so are contractor injuries, whose hours do not attach to a single mine. Rates begin in 2000, when quarterly employment reporting starts, and are withheld below 20,000 hours in a year.
0.00
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
No reportable injury cases in any year shown. Employee-hours were reported in each of those years, so these are true zeros rather than missing data. Citations, listed in the compliance record above, are inspector-found violations and are counted separately from worker injuries.
Below average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 2.17 and the all-US-mining average was 2.59 cases per 100 workers.
In North Carolina, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.52 cases per 100 workers that year.
Under 100,000 employee-hours were reported that year, so a single case moves the rate by two or more. Read the figure as approximate.
Year total case rate days-away fatal
2016 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2015 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2014 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2013 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2012 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2011 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2010 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2009 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
* Fewer than 100,000 employee-hours that year; the rate is less stable.
Source: injury cases from MSHA accident and injury records; employee-hours from MSHA quarterly employment reports. Rate is cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers, operator employees only.
Ownership history
  1. United States Gypsum Company 1983 to 2020
  2. The Quartz Corp USA 2020 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 5
2025 6
2024 7
2023 7
2022 7
2021 7
2020 7
2019 7
2018 8
2017 9
2016 10
2015 10
2014 11
2013 12
2012 12
2011 13
2010 13
2009 14
2008 15
2007 15
2006 16
2005 16
2004 16
2003 18
2002 17
2001 15
2000 17
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

KT Mica sits in Mitchell County, North Carolina, where the Census mining category is 6.2% of county employment.

Local economic context
ⓘ County figures come from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey, 5-year pooled estimates, so the 2023 vintage covers 2019 through 2023. The Census category is 'mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction', which is broader than MSHA jurisdiction and includes oil and gas workers no mine employs. These figures describe the surrounding county, not this mine, and are not a factor in any specific incident.
Mitchell County, North Carolina · Population 14,973
6.2%
Mining share of county employment
$58,089
Median household income
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates.
Quarterly safety rates
ⓘ Citations per million reported employee-hours. Rates begin in 2000, when MSHA's quarterly employment data starts; earlier incidents are counted but cannot be rate-adjusted. Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.
Citations per million employee-hours, as reported to MSHA
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2026 Q2 1,746 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 2,273 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 2,370 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 2,551 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 2,550 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 2,706 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 3,831 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 3,051 0 0 0.0
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 3,051 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 2,876 1 0 347.7
2023 Q4 2,852 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 2,946 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 2,969 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 4,868 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 2,631 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 3,494 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 3,838 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 3,705 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 3,197 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 3,394 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 3,470 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 3,739 2 0 534.9
2020 Q4 2,738 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 3,379 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 3,367 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 4,291 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 3,435 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 3,008 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 2,644 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 2,711 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 3,119 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 3,718 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 3,832 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 4,168 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 4,457 1 0 224.4
2017 Q3 4,462 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 4,521 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 4,187 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 4,501 1 0 222.2
2016 Q3 4,793 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 5,484 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 5,803 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 5,627 1 0 177.7
2015 Q3 5,413 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 5,307 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 5,349 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 6,264 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 6,137 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 6,170 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 5,932 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 5,975 2 1 334.7
2013 Q3 6,340 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 6,085 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 6,403 2 0 312.4
2012 Q4 5,996 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 5,816 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 6,009 1 0 166.4
2012 Q1 6,116 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 6,248 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 6,931 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 6,931 2 0 288.6
2011 Q1 6,910 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 5,086 3 0 589.9
2010 Q3 5,677 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 5,158 2 2 387.7
2010 Q1 4,372 2 0 457.5
2009 Q4 5,937 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 6,383 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 7,924 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 7,343 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 8,823 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 8,063 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 7,747 3 0 387.2
2008 Q1 7,806 1 0 128.1
2007 Q4 7,898 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 8,070 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 8,644 1 0 115.7
2007 Q1 8,755 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 8,533 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 8,201 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 9,380 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 8,922 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 8,979 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 9,109 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 8,826 2 0 226.6
2005 Q1 8,099 1 0 123.5
2004 Q4 8,313 2 0 240.6
2004 Q3 8,506 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 8,541 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 8,108 1 0 123.3
2003 Q4 9,048 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 8,798 2 1 227.3
2003 Q2 9,014 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 9,882 2 0 202.4
2002 Q4 8,755 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 8,880 6 2 675.7
2002 Q2 8,673 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 8,907 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 9,132 2 0 219.0
2001 Q3 7,557 2 1 264.7
2001 Q2 7,538 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 7,737 1 0 129.2
2000 Q4 8,140 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 8,499 1 0 117.7
2000 Q2 9,388 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 8,525 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

14 on file

2008 · 1 incident

April 1, 2008 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
United States Gypsum Company · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee was working on the locked out dryer bag-house rotary chain and sprocket. While attempting to manually move the chain up one link on the sprocket he caught the 2nd and 3rd digits of his left hand between the rotary sprocket and chain.

2006 · 1 incident

August 21, 2006 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
United States Gypsum Company · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was lifting the #2 screen spider with a pry bar on the #1 Mill. The screen spider was set on the I-Beam frame. As the employee proceeded to lift the screen with the pry bar he began to feel for the bolt hole underneath the frame. The screen spider started to slide along the pry bar and pinched the pad of his right thumb against the frame.

2005 · 2 incidents

November 14, 2005 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
United States Gypsum Company · Over-exertion in lifting objects

The Maintenance Crew was replacing the screw conveyor in the dryer feed hopper. At about 9:00 AM on Monday 11/14/05 employee felt a burning pain in his lower left back. He was taken to the company doctor where he diagnosed a lumbar strain.

August 3, 2005 NC · Metal/Non-Metal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor HANDLING OF MATERIALS
United States Gypsum Company · Over-exertion in lifting objects

While working at the bagging station (lifting 50-lb. mica bags), EE felt a warm sensation on his right groin area. EE did not think it was a big deal but around 9:30 am as he proceeded to climb the baghouse stairs, he felt the same warm sensation. EE then went to the restroom and noticed that he had some swelling on his right groin area. Diag.: hernia (surgery probable).

2004 · 1 incident

April 17, 2004 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator MACHINERY
United States Gypsum Company · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

While reconnecting an air line that came loose from the St. Regis Packer, employee turned air valve off but failed to close it completely. As the employee proceeded with the reconnection of the air line, he accidentally hit the start button causing the bagger to move pinching and lacerating his left middle finger.

2002 · 1 incident

April 24, 2002 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
United States Gypsum Company · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE WAS SHOVELING CONCRETE WHEN HE FELT A PULL IN HIS BACK.

1997 · 1 incident

July 19, 1997 NC · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
United States Gypsum Company · Fall from machine

TRUCK DRIVER DRIVING FOR FELDSPAR TRUCKING CO AND CONTRACTED TO GEORGIA IND. MINERALS OF DEEP STEP GEORGIA TO USG AT SPRUCE PINE NC SLIPPED OUT OF INCLINED TRAILER BED INTO MICA PIT SUSTAINING CONTUSIONS TO LOWER LEFT LEG AND LOWER BACK. FOR UNKNOWN REASONS BED OF TRUCK RAISED TO FULL HEIGHT WHERE DRIVER WAS WASHING OUT TRAILER ALLOWING DRIVER TO SLIDE OUT OF TRAILER THROUGH OPEN T

1996 · 2 incidents

August 6, 1996 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
United States Gypsum Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMP CLIMBED ON SIDE OF MICA HAUL TRUCK TO COLLECT GRAB SAMPLES FOR ANALYSIS. WHILE LEANING OVER THE SIDEBOARD OF THE TRUCK, EMP STATES THAT HE FELT A PULL BELOW THE RIB CAGE, BUT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PAIN, HE DID NOT REPORT INCIDENT. EMP STATES THAT AS HE WAS GOING TO BED THAT NIGHT, HE FELT PAIN IN THE AREA BELOW HISS RIGHT RIB CAGE.COMPLAINED OF SORENESS. REPORTED TO SUPERVISOR.

January 20, 1996 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
United States Gypsum Company · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EMPLOYEE WAS TRAVELING FROM PARKING LOT INTO PLANT WHEN HE SLIPPED AND FELL ON ICE. HE BROKE HIS TIBIA AND FIBIA OF HIS RIGHT LEG ABOVE HIS ANKLE.

1993 · 1 incident

December 22, 1993 NC · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
United States Gypsum Company · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS PERFORMING A QUALITY TEST ON PRODUCT FOR INDIVIDUAL SCREENS AFTER SAMPLE WAS COLLECTED HE DEVIATED FROM NORMAL PROCEDURE WALKED BETWEEN (2) UNOPERATING SCREENS LEANED INTO A LATCH ED AREA GUARD WHICH UNLATCHED ALLOWING EMPLOYEE TO FALL 321/2IN TO THE FLOOR BELOW

1988 · 3 incidents

May 9, 1988 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
United States Gypsum Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THERE WAS A FIGHT & EMPL RECEIVED BLOWS TO HEAD.

March 31, 1988 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
United States Gypsum Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

PAIN IN LOWER BACK.

February 22, 1988 NC · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
United States Gypsum Company · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

CLAIMANT ALLEGES HEARING LOSS IN BOTH EARX

1983 · 1 incident

April 22, 1983 NC · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
United States Gypsum Company · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

INJURED HAD BEEN HELPING REPLACE BAGS IN BAGHOUSE DUST COLLECTOR, HE HAD FINISHED HIS TURN IN BAGHOUSE & STEPPED OUT ON ROOF WHILE SOMEONE ELSE WENT IN. HIS LEFT FOOT WENT THROUGH A SKYLIG HT & HE FELL 12\ TO 15\ ONTO CONCRETE FLOOR.