The first batch of uncommon earth mud mined by the exploration vessel “Chikyu” (Photo offered by the “Strategic Innovation Creation Program” of the Cabinet Office/R Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology)
Japan has efficiently extracted uncommon earth mud from the seabed 6,000 meters deep in the waters off Minamitorishima Island. It will analyze the composition and try and extract uncommon earths from it. China accounts for 70% of the world’s uncommon earth manufacturing. If Japan can mine in the waters off Minamitorishima Island, it will likely be helpful to its personal financial safety. However, there are nonetheless points in phrases of expertise and profitability…
The Cabinet Office of Japan and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) mentioned on February 2 that that they had efficiently extracted seabed mud believed to include uncommon earths from the seabed about 6,000 meters deep in the waters off Minamitorishima Island in the Ogasawara Islands. The deep – sea exploration vessel “Chikyu”, which mined the seabed mud, is scheduled to return to Shimizu Port (Shizuoka City) on February 15. After returning to the port, the composition of the seabed mud will probably be analyzed. In order to realize industrialization after fiscal 12 months 2028, Japan will promote the verification of profitability and the event of refining expertise.
Analyze Rare Earths in Seabed Mud
After the exploration vessel set off from Shimizu Port (Shizuoka City) on January 12, it arrived on the scheduled trial mining space in the waters off Minamitorishima Island on January 17. About 600 “mud-lifting pipes” about 10 meters lengthy have been related and lowered from the exploration vessel to the seabed about 6,000 meters deep. A mining machine was arrange on the seabed. After mixing the mud and seawater right into a suspension, it was recovered by the mud-lifting pipes. The restoration operation started on January 30, and the gathering of the primary batch of uncommon earth mud was confirmed in the early morning of February 1.
Japan has found seabed mud containing greater than six uncommon earth parts equivalent to dysprosium, neodymium, and gadolinium in excessive concentrations in the waters off Minamitorishima Island. Among them, dysprosium, neodymium, and samarium are used in excessive – efficiency magnets for electrical car motors, and so forth. Yttrium is a fabric for gentle – emitting diodes (LEDs) and superconductors for medical gadgets. Gadolinium is used in methods for controlling nuclear reactors.
After the exploration vessel returns to the port, the composition of the mud – water and the information obtained from the seabed will probably be analyzed at analysis amenities such because the Japan Agency for Marine – Earth Science and Technology. There can even be makes an attempt to extract uncommon earths from the mud.
The exploration vessel “Chikyu” (Shimizu Port, Shizuoka City, January 12)
This trial mining was carried out as a part of the massive – scale R & D challenge “Strategic Innovation Creation Program (SIP)” of the Cabinet Office. Based on the outcomes of this trial, the SIP program plans to conduct a big – scale demonstration take a look at in February 2027.
The capability to mine 350 tons of seabed mud per day will probably be verified. Before the beginning of the take a look at in 2027, a facility for extracting seawater from the seabed mud and performing dehydration remedy will probably be constructed on Minamitorishima Island. Rare earths will probably be extracted from the introduced – again seabed mud to build up expertise for industrialization after fiscal 12 months 2028.
Establishment of Mining and Refining Technologies and Profitability Become Issues
In the uncommon earth area, China accounts for 70% of worldwide manufacturing. As of 2024, Japan imported 63% of its uncommon earths from China. If Japan can mine in the waters off Minamitorishima Island, it would have nice advantages in phrases of financial safety.
However, there are lots of points in industrialization. One of the main challenges is to determine mining and refining applied sciences. In phrases of mining, applied sciences in the oil growth area might be utilized when extracting from the seabed in the type of muddy water.
Deep – sea distant operation, equivalent to remotely working the mining machine positioned on the seabed to attach it to the mud – lifting pipe, is taken into account to be fairly tough. Yasuhiro Yamada, a professor of useful resource and power engineering at Kyushu University in Japan, mentioned, “It is also technically difficult to perform complex operations on heavy objects on the deep seabed.”
Regarding the expertise for extracting uncommon earths from seabed mud, Yamada believes that the expertise for extracting land – primarily based ores can be utilized. Different from land – primarily based ores, uncommon earth mud doesn’t include dangerous substances equivalent to radioactive supplies and arsenic. Therefore, it is usually thought of to have the benefit of lowering the remedy course of for industrial waste. However, there was no instance of extracting uncommon earths from seabed mud to date.
Rare earth mud is fashioned when calcium phosphate, which makes up fish bones and tooth and accumulates on the seabed, absorbs uncommon earth parts. Therefore, calcium should first be eliminated when refining uncommon earth mud.
The greatest downside is taken into account to be profitability. Minamitorishima Island is about 1,950 kilometers away from the middle of Tokyo, and the world the place the uncommon earth mud lies is 6,000 meters deep. The use of apparatus and ships required for mining incurs large prices. Masakazu Ishii, the challenge chief of the Strategic Innovation Creation Program, mentioned, “Horizontal movement (distance from Tokyo) and vertical movement (water depth) are the most costly.” Professor Yamada of Kyushu University believes that “although we are looking forward to this project, resource development cannot be carried out if it is not economically viable.”
Requires International Understanding
On the opposite hand, some individuals consider that even when the profitability is low, having uncommon earth manufacturing expertise in one’s personal nation nonetheless has significance in phrases of financial safety. Ishii emphasised, “It is necessary to master resources, establish exploitable technologies, and ensure supply channels in case of emergencies, which is essential for economic security.”
There are presently no worldwide guidelines concerning the industrial growth of marine mineral sources. Japan additionally wants worldwide understanding to advertise growth. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) of the United Nations goals to formulate guidelines concerning seabed growth primarily based on the safety of sources and ecosystems.
Leticia Carvalho, the Secretary – General of the International Seabed Authority, visited Japan in November 2025 and paid an official go to to the Strategic Innovation Creation Program and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Regarding this survey, the International Seabed Authority evaluated that the exploration vessel “Chikyu” “is equipped at the highest level. Japan’s basic scientific research and technology will effectively promote the trial in the waters off Minamitorishima Island.”
This article is from the WeChat official account “Nikkei Chinese Net” (ID: rijingzhongwenwang). The writer is Nikkei Chinese Net, and it’s printed by 36Kr with authorization.