Large amount of rare earth metals found near Japan

Scientists have found a large amount of rare earth metals on the bottom of the ocean near Japan, which are used for batteries, LEDs and screens, among other things. The find could reduce dependence on China for the decline of these earth metals.

The stocks were found near Minamitori Island, about 1,850 kilometers southeast of Tokyo. It concerns an area with an area of ​​more than 2,500 square kilometers, where more than 16 million tons of rare earth metals can be extracted.

According to a study published in Scientific Reports, the supply of yttrium is enough to meet current demand for 780 years. For europium, terbium and dysprosium these periods are successively 620, 420 and 730 years. The rare earth metals are needed for many technological products, such as batteries, wind turbines, LEDs, screens and medical equipment.

The Wall Street Journal reports that China’s stocks set prices for rare earths and that the discovery potentially makes Japan, and other countries, less dependent on its neighbor. Extracting the earth metals is still a problem as they are located in the mud of the ocean, at a depth of more than 5000 meters. Japan hopes to complete a feasibility test within five years.