(Updated) Finding Rare Earths in Japanese Mud || Feb. 17, 2026
Japan has identified a large rare earth deposit of its own, but it's not going to change global supply dynamics. Here's the situation.
Rare earths are typically a byproduct, so the bottleneck isn’t ore access; it’s processing capacity. And China has a monopoly on the processing. Japan may have found a massive deposit, but that's just step one. The deposit is located near Minamitorishima Island, under 8km of water, and extraction just isn't economically viable as of now.
This is just another example of Japan having to get creative with the hand it's been dealt.
Comments (18)
Layman here... might the fact that the Japanese find is in mud and whereas the land based ores are in rocks, might a significant difference appear in the cost/complexity difference between the two?
Let's do the math ... at 1:15 he says that one-half to several tons, meaning 1,000-10,000 pounds, gives you an ounce, or 1/16 pounds. That's one part in 16,000 to 160,000, or 6-60 parts per million. At 1:30 he says that the Japanese mud has several thousand parts per million and a bit later he says that other deposits have 5-10 times more. This does not add up.
He likely said tonnes, not tons.
The KAIJU COMETH
The size of that island and elevation makes big infrastructure a risky investment. However, claiming 'rare earths' and building a mine to look for anything from rare earths to unicorn horns still has a lot of value. The island is located far into the Pacific, as a defence position and point of territorial waters in the first island chain around China. Building something - any infrastructure - on it, makes it clear that it's Japan's territory. There's value in that. Rare earths are as good a cover story as any.
Yazzzzzzzzz more EEZ stuff and maybe Mothra?
Minami-Tori-shima (南鳥島; lit. "Southern Bird Island")
So we need modern methods based on weight or shape to concentrate the ore in large quantities. Or since the universe and all materials are conscious we'll learn their language and ask them to concentrate on their own. FREE! For a few milliseconds anyway.
The language the minerals speak is chemistry and physics.
Peter could benefit to learn about Ucore Rare Earths…they are funded by the US DoW and are opening a processing facility in Louisiana at present and aim to be the “Rockefeller” of RE processing.
China does over 90% of processing. Globally. One plant does not make them the Rockefeller of the global market. There's a lot more infrastructure needed to achieve that, which takes time to build. And that's without considering the pollution, hazardous labour, or input ores trade and tariffs.
I liked the earlier one today better. Gratitude nonetheless.
A Rare Double. Thank You kindly, Peter.
If mine tailings are refined to make rare earths then why is the focus on new mines? The world already has plenty of old mines with tailing dumps visible from outer space. One example is Kennecot Mine in Alaska whose tailings fill up a valley.
Perhaps because if you use tailings you start with concentrated waste and then end up with even more concentrated waste and then you need another valley and you need political capital coming and going for permits. Also, likely it's just because it's not commonly done and this is a hidebound industry that runs on slim margins and consequently would prefer to find slave labor and no environmental oversight in a place preferably far away from anything like that.
Can we please mine those Australian coral for Rare Earths.
They just sit there and cut up innocent peoples feet. We can’t allow this to continue.
thank youuuu 👍