Japan Retrieves Rare Earth-Rich Sediment from Deep Seabed

Japan announced on Monday the successful retrieval of sediment rich in rare earth minerals from the deep seabed near the remote Minamitorishima Island in the Pacific Ocean, a breakthrough aimed at lessening the country's dependence on China for these critical resources. The operation, conducted at depths of approximately 5,700 to 6,000 meters, marks the world's first continuous extraction of such material from that level, according to government officials.

The mission utilized the deep-sea drilling vessel Chikyu, operated by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, or JAMSTEC. The ship departed from Shimizu port on January 12 and reached the site, about 1,900 kilometers southeast of Tokyo, on January 17. Recovery efforts began on January 30, with the first batch of mud lifted on February 1. By Monday, operations had been completed at three locations. The vessel employed a specialized method, injecting seawater through reinforced pipes to lift the sediment under immense pressure, adapting techniques originally developed for oil and gas exploration.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described the achievement in a statement on social media as a world first and an...