Japan to Test Deep-Sea Rare-Earth Mud Extraction

Japanese researchers will conduct a month-long trial starting in January to extract rare-earth-bearing mud from the seabed near Minamitorishima in Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

The operation will use the exploration vessel Chikyu, operated by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), to recover sediments from approximately 6,000 meters depth. Newly developed riser pipes and seabed mining equipment will be deployed to assess whether the deposits can be extracted reliably at such extreme depths.

Recovered material will be processed to refine rare-earth elements and assessed for concentration levels, informing technical and economic feasibility. The project is led by the Cabinet Office; if successful, researchers plan further mining trials beginning February 2027.

Program director Ishii Shoichi emphasized that the mud cannot be considered a viable resource unless extraction proves dependable, and said the trial aims to demonstrate the operational viability of the technology. Deposits near Minamitorishima are viewed as a potential domestic source for high-tech industries.