BlackTortoise + 103 CM April 12, 2018 Rare metals are important in making high-tech products including electric vehicles, mobile phones and batteries. The metals lie in a seabed about 1,150 miles southeast of Tokyo. The seabed contains more than 16 million tonnes of rare earth oxides. The world has relied on China for almost all of its rare- earth metals. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Adam Varga + 123 AV April 12, 2018 This is a huge deal if it can be mined economically. China is a major supplier of rare earths right now but not the only one. The other is Australia, which produces about 10 percent of the world's supply. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormysaga + 62 AB April 12, 2018 So Japan will save us from dependence on Chinese controlled rare-earths. Hopefully its significant enough to give them a new economic boom. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LAOIL + 33 OS April 17, 2018 China has tightly controlled the world's supply for decades of these minerals used in almost everything, from smartphones and EV batteries to planes, defense and satellite rockets. But Japan's discovery could be a game-changer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crazybob + 1 rk July 23, 2018 1,150 miles southeast would put that in international waters , wouldn't it ? How do mineral claims work in that case ? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
minio orellana + 1 mo July 24, 2018 How would one mine these rare earth minerals from the sea-bed off Japan coasts? And can they be even mined economically? Any feasibility studies? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NickW + 2,714 NW July 24, 2018 The reality is these metals are not that rare. The current issue is there has been very little prospecting for metals that previously had limited use. There is a lot of analysis now of old core samples from mining and oil and gas operations to look for 'rare' metal deposits without having to actually go out in the field. Lithium is the 25th most abundant element Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites