Japanese waters found difficult rare earth mining

According to Japanese media reports said Tokyo University professor Hiroshi Kato Thai and Japanese marine research and development institutions (hereinafter referred to as the marine agencies) found that, in the Ogasawara Islands south of Bird Island waters contain high concentrations of rare earth mud is widely distributed in the seabed of 2 to 4 meters . Japan had thought that if the mud deposited on the rare earth deposits is very thick, it will constitute an obstacle to mining.

According to "Japanese Economic News" reported on November 25, the University of Tokyo and Mitsui Ocean Development, attended the "rare earth mud consortium to promote the development of" established recently, the development of mining technology for the production of rare earth mud from 5600 ~ 5800 m water depth at and seeking to achieve commercialization possibilities.

Dysprosium in rare earth-containing strong magnet for a hybrid motor, and yttrium for the laser element. Professor Kato in 2012 found that in obtaining an international investigation by the South Bird Island Sea seabed mud, containing high concentrations of rare earths. University of Tokyo and marine agencies through last year's survey found that the concentration exceeds 5000PPM (PPM 1 100 live births), reaching more than 30 times China's major producer of rare earth mine. In particular, a large number of distributed mostly Chinese "heavy rare earths."

October 15 - 29, located about 250 km south of Bird Island south of the EEZ (EEZ) of the seabed were investigated. It was found that high concentrations of rare earth mud are widely distributed in the west of the seabed surface waters located in close distance, easy exploitation of position. Distributed in the past was considered to be more than 10 meters deeper position.

After the spring of 2015, but also in the rest of the waters of advancing a detailed investigation. Investigation could be commercialized within the 100 square kilometers of sea. Kato teach, "said Japan's usage of a year in the area and perhaps just one square kilometer can get."

Because over 90% of total global production of China's policy changes, price spikes and supply instability rare events occur frequently. Therefore, the Japanese government is promoting the purchase negotiations with other countries, but there are problems and quality of reserves, China's monopoly status has not changed.

In addition, Japanese industry is by reducing usage and thoroughly promote recycling and other initiatives to deal with the problem.

Last year, the Japanese government to formulate policy guidelines as ocean marine basic plan proposed rare earth mud seabed mining as one of the goals. And to develop rare earth seabed, the need to sink a long pipe on the sea from the ship will suck up mud. Mined more than 5000 m deep seabed resources in the past has never been a precedent.

Many researchers believe that the use of existing technology, mining is feasible. Professor Hiroshi Kato Thai Mitsui Ocean Development and the University of Tokyo as the center of the consortium is studying the use of the pipe to the seabed mud into the air, and then sucked up "gas up" technology.

Institute for Security Studies seminar maritime expert technical analysis, even if the use of existing equipment and technology to exploit the day deep sea sediments contain rare earth will reach about 1,300 tons. If you work 200 days a year, will be able to get 3600 tons of rare earth, equivalent to about one quarter of last year, Japan's imports.

The actual price of rare earth compared to the previous period of time there has been a substantial decline. Reduce mining costs will become an important issue.


Tungsten Manufacturer & Supplier: Chinatungsten Online - http://www.chinatungsten.com
Tel.: 86 592 5129696; Fax: 86 592 5129797
Email:  sales@chinatungsten.com
Tungsten & Molybdenum Information Bank: http://i.chinatungsten.com
Tungsten News & Tungsten Prices, 3G Version: http://3g.chinatungsten.com
Molybdenum News & Molybdenum Price: http://news.molybdenum.com.cn

• < Prev
• Next >