Japan embarks Sunday on what it says is the world’s first bid to tap deep sea rare earths at a depth of 6,000 meters — greater than the height of Mount Fuji — to curb dependence on China. A Japanese deep-sea scientific drilling boat called the Chikyu will set sail for the remote island of Minami Torishima in the Pacific, where surrounding waters are believed to contain a rich trove of valuable minerals.

Deep sea mining test set. (2026, January 10). Daily Tribune, p. C24.