A research vessel finds mud containing rare earth elements at a depth of 20,000 feet in a world first

The Japanese research vessel Chikyu has begun a mission in a remote area of the ocean where sediments containing rare earth elements are found. The project is a groundbreaking attempt to extract these materials continuously from the seabed to a ship at the surface. The operation, expected to last about a month, is taking place near Minamitori-shima Island, located roughly 1,200 miles southeast of Tokyo.

The ship is equipped with a system capable of lifting up to 350 tons of sediment per day, although few details have been released about how the technology works. The main objective is to determine whether this mineral-rich mud can be pumped steadily from extreme depths, which would represent a major technical breakthrough.

Japan is pushing this project to reduce its dependence on China, which produces nearly 70 percent of the world’s rare earth elements and in 2025 restricted exports of twelve of them. In 2010, almost 90 percent of the rare earths used by Japan came from China, but that figure has now fallen to about 60 percent thanks to investments in other countries and expanded recycling efforts.

A project surrounded by uncertainty

Deep-sea mining is extremely expensive, technically complex, and raises concerns about its potential environmental impact, which remains poorly understood. Since 2018, the Japanese government has invested more than 234 million dollars in the project, although it has not disclosed how much rare earth material it expects to recover.

If the tests are successful, large-scale extraction is planned for February 2027. Until now, the high costs have made the project unprofitable. However, an analyst at Mitsubishi UFJ has noted that it could become viable if China continues to restrict supply and buyers are willing to pay higher prices.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.