Japans Deep-Sea Hunt Discovers Rare Earth Deposits in Bid to Diversify Supply

Japan’s Government Announces Record-Deep Sea Rare Earth Discovery

The Japanese government has announced that a recent deep-sea test mission in the Pacific Ocean has retrieved sediment containing rare earth elements from depths of approximately 20,000 feet. The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) collected the sample, which is currently being analyzed to determine its quantity.

According to Kei Sato, a government spokesman, the retrieval of the sediment marks “a meaningful achievement both in terms of economic security and comprehensive maritime development.” This discovery comes as part of Japan’s efforts to reduce its dependence on China for rare earth minerals.

The research vessel Chikyu, operated by JAMSTEC, set sail last month from the remote Pacific island of Minami Torishima. The area surrounding the island is estimated to contain over 16 million tonnes of rare earths, making it one of the largest reserves globally.

Japan has signed an agreement with the United States to coordinate on securing the supply of rare earths, following concerns about China’s control of critical minerals. Japan imports approximately 70% of its rare earths from China and has been affected by recent diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

Rare earths are a group of 17 metals that are difficult to extract from the Earth’s crust and are used in various applications, including electric vehicles, hard drives, wind turbines, and missiles. The discovery of deep-sea rare earths at such great depths is considered a significant achievement by Japan.

Source: Al Jazeera