日本公开采集稀土泥全过程

Core Viewpoint - Japan's Cabinet Office announced the successful extraction of rare earth mud from the Minami-Torishima sea area, with plans to potentially start commercial mining by February 2027 if experiments are successful. However, there are doubts regarding the feasibility of deep-sea rare earth mining, as China currently holds nearly 70% of global rare earth production [1][2]. Group 1 - Japan aims to initiate commercial mining of rare earths by February 2027, contingent on successful experimental results [1]. - Rare earths are critical materials for manufacturing chips, electric vehicles, and weapons [1]. - The feasibility of deep-sea mining is questioned by Japanese media [1]. Group 2 - The primary challenges include the technology for extraction and refining, which require significant investment in equipment and vessels [2]. - Environmental concerns pose a major obstacle, with warnings from environmental organizations about the potential damage to fragile marine ecosystems due to deep-sea mining [2].