16 million tons of rare earth elements discovered off that island

Minamitorishima, an island belonging to Japan, is known as a geography where only military and meteorological activities are conducted and where there is no civilian life. With an area of 12 square kilometers, the island is one of the country's most isolated regions and holds a critical position for Japan's exclusive economic zone in the Pacific. The area is kept under constant control by military personnel.

Research indicates the presence of approximately 16 million tons of rare earth element reserves in the deep mud layers of the island's seabed. These elements include substances such as neodymium, dysprosium, and yttrium, which are used in many critical industries ranging from electric vehicle motors to wind turbines, and from smartphones to defense and satellite technologies.

The reserve identified under the ocean stands out not only for its size but also for its economic potential. Experts estimate that the market value of the elements found in this massive resource could reach hundreds of billions of dollars. Currently, while the majority of the world's rare earth elements are processed by China, Japan developing its own reserves carries special significance in terms of both technology and defense strategies.

Direct access to the reserves on the island involves significant technical challenges. Scientists state that the minerals are located thousands of meters deep and within sea mud. For this reason, Japanese researchers have accelerated efforts in recent years to develop new technologies for seabed mining and economic extraction. Commercial production in the area is not expected to begin in the short term; according to experts, transitioning to commercial extraction could take many years.

Globally, the need for rare earth elements in the production of electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and advanced technological devices is increasing day by day. For this reason, the massive reserve discovered around Minamitorishima is of great importance not only for Japan but also for global technology supply chains. Experts state that work on the island is ongoing and that new projects could emerge in the future that would enable these resources on the seabed to be put to use. For now, it is considered certain that one of the largest and most remarkable rare earth reserves in the world lies here.

News Source: 12punto