Articles tagged with "deep-sea-mining"
In a first, Japan pulls rare-earth mud from over 19,000-ft below sea
Japan has achieved a world-first by successfully retrieving sediment containing rare earth elements from about 19,700 feet (6,000 meters) below the ocean surface during a recent government-backed expedition. This milestone is part of Japan’s strategic effort to reduce its heavy reliance on China for rare earth minerals, which are crucial for modern technologies such as smartphones, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced weaponry. The sediment sample, collected near Minamitori Island in Japan’s easternmost waters, will undergo detailed analysis to determine its rare earth content. If subsequent tests prove successful, Japan plans to begin test extraction of seabed mud by February 2027, potentially lifting around 385 tons of sediment daily for evaluation. The initiative reflects Japan’s broader push to secure a stable supply chain amid geopolitical tensions and China’s dominant position in rare earth production and processing. Despite investments in overseas projects and facilities, Japan still imports about 70% of its rare earths from China, prompting the government to prioritize domestic seab
rare-earth-elementsdeep-sea-miningcritical-mineralsJapan-technologysupply-chain-securitymaterials-extractioneconomic-securityThe Trump Administration Is Racing to Launch the Deep-Sea Mining Industry, Despite Huge Risks and Broad Opposition - CleanTechnica
The Trump administration has aggressively pushed to fast-track the development of a deep-sea mining (DSM) industry in U.S. and international waters, despite significant environmental risks and widespread opposition. Early in his second term, President Trump issued directives to accelerate DSM activities, leading the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to initiate leasing processes for mining in areas offshore of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Pacific Ocean near Hawai‘i. This rapid advancement aims to exploit deep-sea mineral resources but threatens to cause extensive and potentially irreversible damage to fragile deep-sea habitats, including the destruction of seafloor ecosystems and the spread of sediment plumes over vast areas. The deep ocean is the largest and least-explored habitat on Earth, home to unique species such as the dumbo octopus and rich biodiversity supported by mineral-rich seamounts. These ecosystems have slow-growing organisms with limited capacity to recover from disturbances, making them especially vulnerable to mining impacts. Deep-sea environments also provide critical ecosystem services like
energydeep-sea-miningenvironmental-impactocean-mineralssustainable-resourcesmining-technologymarine-ecosystemsJapan starts world-first mission to mine rare earths from seabed
Japan has initiated a pioneering month-long deep-sea mission to extract rare earth elements from mud located 6 kilometers beneath the ocean surface near Minamitori Island, about 1,900 kilometers southeast of Tokyo. This mission, conducted by the test mining vessel Chikyu, aims to achieve the world’s first continuous recovery of rare earth-rich mud from such depths. The project represents a significant technological milestone and is part of Japan’s strategic effort to develop a domestic source of critical minerals essential for electric vehicles, electronics, and defense systems, thereby reducing its heavy reliance on China, which currently supplies around 60% of Japan’s rare earth imports. The initiative follows years of preparation and comes amid escalating diplomatic and trade tensions with China, which has tightened controls on critical mineral exports and recently banned dual-use item exports to Japan. Japan has invested approximately $250 million since 2018 into this project, though no reserve estimates or production targets have been disclosed. If successful, the mission could diversify Japan’s rare
energymaterialsrare-earth-elementsdeep-sea-miningelectric-vehiclessupply-chainJapanScientists find new species thriving 13,123 feet below water surface
Scientists conducting a deep-sea mining test in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean discovered numerous previously unknown species thriving 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) below the surface. This international research project, spanning over five years, cataloged 4,350 animals larger than 0.3 millimeters and identified 788 species, mainly marine bristle worms, crustaceans, and mollusks. The findings reveal surprising biodiversity in an environment with no sunlight and scarce nutrients, although individual animal counts are much lower than in shallower waters. Molecular DNA analysis was critical for identifying many new species and understanding the ecological dynamics of this largely unexplored deep-sea ecosystem. While the mining activity caused a roughly one-third decline in species richness along the vehicle’s tracks, the overall ecological impact was less severe than initially feared. The research underscores how little is known about deep-ocean life and highlights the importance of rigorous environmental assessments before expanding deep-sea mining. Given the
energydeep-sea-miningmarine-biologybiodiversitycritical-metalsenvironmental-assessmentseabed-explorationChina's deep sea mining rover reaches 6,000 feet below to dig cobalt
China has successfully field-tested an intelligent robotic mining vehicle capable of operating at depths of 2,000 meters (6,561 feet) in the western Pacific Ocean, specifically beyond the US-established “second island chain” near Guam. Developed by teams from the National Engineering Research Centre for Metal Mining, Central South University, and Tianjin University, the vehicle demonstrated autonomous navigation and maneuverability across cobalt-rich ocean floor terrain. This marks a significant advancement from previous Chinese efforts, which were largely theoretical or lab-scale, and highlights China’s growing capabilities in deep-sea mining technology. The ocean floor is believed to hold vast cobalt resources—estimated at over 7.3 billion tonnes—far exceeding known terrestrial reserves. Cobalt is critical for rechargeable batteries and aerospace applications, making these seabed deposits strategically important. China currently dominates global cobalt refining capacity (about 73%) and is projected to supply nearly half of the world’s mined cobalt by 2030. The successful test of this mining rover is expected to
roboticsdeep-sea-miningcobaltrechargeable-batteriesautonomous-vehicleseabed-resourcesmining-technologyDeep-sea mining dilemma: Powering green tech at the cost of ocean life
The article discusses the complex dilemma posed by deep-sea mining, particularly the extraction of polymetallic nodules from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the Pacific Ocean. These nodules, rich in critical metals like nickel, copper, and manganese, are essential for manufacturing batteries and renewable energy technologies, with global demand expected to surge by 2040. Proponents argue that harvesting these nodules could stabilize supply chains and reduce reliance on environmentally damaging and ethically problematic land-based mining. The mining process involves a sophisticated system operating 4,000 meters below the ocean surface, using a robotic collector to vacuum nodules from the seafloor, which are then transported to the surface for processing. However, scientists and environmentalists warn that deep-sea mining could irreversibly damage fragile ecosystems that have developed over millions of years. The seabed habitats, including newly discovered species like the gelatinous "gummy squirrel" sea cucumber, depend on the nodules for survival.
energymaterialsdeep-sea-miningpolymetallic-noduleselectric-vehiclesrenewable-energybattery-materialsShould We Sacrifice The Seabed Floor For Next Generation Technology? - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica discusses the environmental and ethical concerns surrounding deep sea mining, particularly in light of recent U.S. government actions promoting the practice despite international prohibitions. Deep sea mining targets polymetallic nodules on the ocean floor, which contain valuable minerals like lithium, cobalt, copper, nickel, manganese, and rare earth elements essential for modern technologies such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, and medical devices. However, these nodules are home to unique and poorly understood marine ecosystems, including bioluminescent animals and species adapted to oxygen-minimum zones. Mining these nodules would destroy these fragile habitats, raising significant ecological concerns. The article highlights the tension between technological and economic interests and the need to protect the ocean’s last largely untouched frontier. While the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides a legal framework for ocean governance and emphasizes the protection of marine environments for present and future generations, the Trump administration has pushed forward with mining initiatives under an older
energydeep-sea-miningrare-earth-elementslithiumcobaltelectric-vehicleswind-turbinesTrump administration may sell deep-sea mining leases at startup’s urging
robotdeep-sea-miningautonomous-vehiclescritical-mineralsenvironmental-impactunderwater-technologyresource-extraction