Japan successfully mined rare earth-rich sediment 6,000 meters underwater, a first-of-its-kind deep-sea effort to reduce reliance on China.

Japan successfully retrieved rare earth-rich sediment from 6,000 meters below the sea near Minamitorishima, marking the world’s first deep-sea mining attempt at such depths. The operation, conducted by the research vessel Chikyu, aims to reduce Japan’s reliance on China for critical minerals used in electronics, defense, and electric vehicles. The sediment, believed to contain high concentrations of dysprosium, neodymium, and yttrium, could supply global demand for decades. While commercial mining remains years away, the test is a key step in Japan’s strategy to secure domestic rare earth supplies amid geopolitical tensions and export restrictions.