Environment and Energy

Japan discovers rare earth deposits in deep-sea mud near Minamitori Island

Japan's government announced that analysis of rare earth-rich mud retrieved from the deep seabed off Minamitori Island found medium and heavy rare earth elements accounted for about 54% of the total rare earth content. The Japanese scientific drilling vessel Chikyu completed a month-long mission in February near the island, about 1,900 km southeast of Tokyo, recovering about 50 metric tons of mud. Japan plans a large-scale mining trial from February 2027, aiming to dredge 350 tons of mud a day, with a comprehensive assessment of industrialisation prospects due by March 2028.