Vast cache of rare earth elements found in Japan's mud

Japan keeps finding treasure in deep-sea mud. For the second time in two years, a Japanese team has announced vast deposits of rare earth elements on the floor of the Pacific Ocean.

Rare earth elements are not rare, but they are hard to find in easy-to-mine minerals. Right now China produces about 97 per cent of the world's supply, which is used in many common technologies, from LCD screens to the batteries in hybrid cars.

Two years ago, Yasuhiro Kato and colleagues at the University of Tokyo announced they had found mud below international waters that is rich in rare earths. The latest discovery is nearby but is inside Japan's exclusive economic zone, so the nation will not need to negotiate mineral rights.

Kato hopes that the new find will help weaken China's monopoly on rare earths. Currently, Japan imports more than 80 per cent of its rare earths from China so when China restricted its exports in 2010, Japan had to endure skyrocketing prices.

If Japan could produce 10 per cent of its own rare earths, Kato predicts that China would lower its prices in order to impede Japan's development project. "This is a very effective resources strategy," he notes.

Kato's team will explore the new rare earth resources for the next two years, before mining begins.

If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.

Have your say

Only subscribers may leave comments on this article. Please log in.

Only personal subscribers may leave comments on this article

Subscribe now to comment.

All comments should respect the New Scientist House Rules. If you think a particular comment breaks these rules then please use the "Report" link in that comment to report it to us.

If you are having a technical problem posting a comment, please contact technical support.

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/2a41c049/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cdn233380Evast0Ecache0Eof0Erare0Eearth0Eelements0Efound0Ein0Ejapans0Emud0Bhtml0Dcmpid0FRSS0QNSNS0Q20A120EGLOBAL0Qonline0Enews/story01.htm

apple live blog ohio primary cell phone jammer g8 summit netanyahu aipac vanessa minnillo