Japan Says It Found Rare Earth in Sediment Retrieved on Deep-Sea Mission

Japan retrieves rare earth-rich mud from seabed to lower reliance on China

A Japanese research vessel has successfully drilled and retrieved deep-sea sediment containing rare earth minerals from the seabed near a remote island, Japan’s government announced Monday as the country seeks to reduce its reliance on China.

Japan retrieves rare earth mud from deep seabed in test mission

By Yuka Obayashi TOKYO, Feb 2 (Reuters) – Japan’s government said on Monday that it has successfully retrieved rare-earth-rich seabed mud for the first time from depths of around ‍6 km (4 miles) during a test mission. A Japanese scientific drill ship departed on January 12 for the remote Minamitori Island to explore rare-earth-rich mud deposits, part of Tokyo’s effort to reduce its reliance on China for critical minerals as Beijing chokes off su…

Japan pursues rare earths to reduce China dependence

Japan said it would accelerate plans to mine rare earths from the deep ocean, in order to reduce reliance on China. A mining vessel has been placing equipment near a coral island 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers) from Japan, intended to pull metal-bearing mud from the seabed for tests by early next year, and Tokyo said Monday it had successfully retrieved rare earth sediment. Rare earths are vital for defense and the energy transition, but China ac…

Japan deep-sea hunt finds rare earths as it seeks to cut reliance on China

Tokyo proclaims Pacific Ocean mission world’s first attempt to tap rare earths at such a depth.