A Tremendous Supply of Rare Earth Metals Is Sitting in Japanese Waters www.extremetech.com

Certain so-called “rare-earth” metals are vital to modern manufacturing and technology. Applications range from lasers and magnets to ceramic capacitors, oxidative agents, high-temperature superconductors, stainless steel, and PET scanners. A new report on the sea floor around Japan’s Minami-Tori-shima, also known as Marcus Island, indicates the mud is positively saturated with rare-earth elements and yttrium, abbreviated REY. (Yttrium is not always classified as a rare-earth element, but is extremely similar.)