日媒：日本明年将开始开采深海稀土

Core Viewpoint - Japan will begin deep-sea rare earth mining in January next year, marking a significant step in resource extraction from ocean beds [1] Group 1: Project Details - The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology will deploy the deep-sea scientific drilling vessel "Chikyu" approximately 100 to 150 kilometers off the coast of Minami-Torishima [1] - A pipeline will be sunk to a depth of 5,500 meters below the sea surface to collect 35 tons of sediment [1] - The operation, including pipeline placement, is expected to take about three weeks, after which the sediment will be transported back to Japan [1] Group 2: Resource Potential - Each ton of sediment is estimated to contain about 2 kilograms of rare earth minerals [1] - The seabed around Japan is rich in rare earth elements, with the area near Minami-Torishima estimated to hold approximately 16 million tons of rare earth, making it the third-largest reserve globally [1]