Japan to test rare-earth mining 6 km underwater

Japan said Friday it plans to conduct a full-scale deep-sea mining test at a depth of 6 kilometers near Minami-Torishima island. This follows a successful trial by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology vessel Chikyu which recovered 50 metric tons of rare-earth-rich mud.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that the samples taken earlier this year by a deep-sea drilling ship included traces of yttrium, which is used as catalysts for purifying harmful nitrogen oxides in the semiconductor and automotive industries. Concurrently, environmental groups warn that continuous seabed mining and sediment lifting could harm delicate marine life.