Japan Confirms Deposit of Over 16 Million Tons of Rare Earth Elements, Potentially the Largest in the World

Written by Carla Teles

Published on 06/07/2025 at 22:50

Japão descobre a maior reserva de terras raras do mundo: 16 milhões de toneladas no fundo do mar. Entenda como o país planeja iniciar a extração em 2025. Imagem: Ilha Minami-Torishima, Wikipedia.

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Japanese Scientists Confirm a Colossal Deposit of Over 16 Million Tons of Rare Earths Near the Island of Minamitorishima and Plan to Start Extraction in 2025.

Japan is poised to change the global geopolitical and technological landscape. Researchers in the country have identified what may be the largest deposit of rare earths in the world, located on the floor of the Pacific Ocean. With an ambitious plan, the nation already has a date to begin exploring these vital resources.

The Sediment With Potential for Centuries of Consumption

The discovery is located in the depths of the ocean, near the small island of Minamitorishima. In an area of approximately 2,500 square kilometers, a mineral-rich sediment containing over 16 million tons of rare earth oxides has been found.

This volume is extraordinary. It is believed that the deposit has the potential to meet global demand for centuries. The reserve includes significant amounts of terbium and dysporosium, sufficient to meet Japan’s needs for over 400 and 700 years, respectively.

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The Challenge at 6,000 Meters Depth and the Japanese Solution

Extracting these materials is not a simple task. The deposit of rare earths is located at a depth of about 6,000 meters, where the pressure is immense and the conditions are extreme.

To overcome this obstacle, engineers from the University of Tokyo have developed an innovative system. The technology involves pumping the mineral-rich sediment directly from the seabed to a ship on the surface. This method has been successfully tested, managing to bring material from a depth of 2,470 meters.

The Expected Year for the Start of Rare Earth Mining

The Japanese government and the companies involved in the project are optimistic. The research and development team, led by Yasuhiro Kato, plans to conduct a large-scale extraction test. If the results are positive, commercial exploration is scheduled to commence as early as 2025.

The Strategic Importance of Rare Earths for Japan’s Technological Sovereignty

Rare earths are a group of 17 chemical elements crucial for manufacturing numerous high-tech products. They are used in smartphones, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and military equipment. Currently, China almost completely dominates the production and refining of these minerals.

With this discovery, Japan aims to reduce its significant dependence on the Chinese market. Controlling such a vast source of rare earths would give the country a strategic advantage and ensure the security of its technological supply chains for the future.

Japan Confirms Deposit of Over 16 Million Tons of Rare Earth Elements, Potentially the Largest in the World

Japanese Scientists Confirm a Colossal Deposit of Over 16 Million Tons of Rare Earths Near the Island of Minamitorishima and Plan to Start Extraction in 2025.

The Sediment With Potential for Centuries of Consumption

The Challenge at 6,000 Meters Depth and the Japanese Solution

The Expected Year for the Start of Rare Earth Mining

The Strategic Importance of Rare Earths for Japan’s Technological Sovereignty

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Japan Confirms Deposit of Over 16 Million Tons of Rare Earth Elements, Potentially the Largest in the World

Japanese Scientists Confirm a Colossal Deposit of Over 16 Million Tons of Rare Earths Near the Island of Minamitorishima and Plan to Start Extraction in 2025.

The Sediment With Potential for Centuries of Consumption

The Challenge at 6,000 Meters Depth and the Japanese Solution

The Expected Year for the Start of Rare Earth Mining

The Strategic Importance of Rare Earths for Japan’s Technological Sovereignty

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