Japan Recovers Rare-Earth-Bearing Seabed Mud at 6,000 Meters in First-of-Its-Kind Test

Overview

• Research vessel Chikyu retrieved sediment near Minami Torishima in Japan’s exclusive economic zone on February 1, with the government announcing the result on February 2.
• Authorities say this is the first attempt to probe rare-earth elements at roughly 6,000 meters below the seafloor, and lab analysis will determine the sample’s composition.
• The mission is part of Japan’s Strategic Innovation Program with JAMSTEC to reduce reliance on Chinese supply following recent curbs on some dual-use exports to Japan.
• Nikkei has reported more than 16 million tonnes of rare-earth elements may lie in the area, yet officials stress that continuous extraction, separation, refining and overall economics must be proven.
• Japan plans a larger pilot in February 2027 targeting about 350 tonnes of mud per day to assess the full extraction-to-processing chain.