Posted on 03/25/2013 12:26:40 AM PDT by bruinbirdman
Japanese scientists have found vast reserves of rare earth metals on the Pacific seabed that can be mined cheaply, a discovery that may break the Chinese monopoly on a crucial raw material needed in hi-tech industries and advanced weapons systems.
"We have found deposits that are just two to four meters from the seabed surface at higher concentrations than anybody ever thought existed, and it won't cost much at all to extract," said professor Yasuhiro Kato from Tokyo University, the leader of the team.
While America, Australia, and other countries have begun to crank up production of the seventeen rare earth elements, they have yet to find viable amounts of the heavier metals such as dysprosium, terbium, europium, and ytterbium that are most important.
China has a near total monopoly in the heavier end of the spectrum, though it is also the dominant supplier of the whole rare earth complex after driving rivals out of business in the 1990s. It still accounts for 97pc of global supply.
Beijing shocked the world when it suddenly began to restrict exports in 2009, prompting furious protests and legal complaints by both the US and the EU at the World Trade Organisation. China claimed that it was clamping down on smuggling and environmental abuse.
"Their real intention is to force foreign companies to locate plant in China. They're saying `if you want our rare earth metals, you must build your factory here, and we can then steal your technology," said professor Kato.
These are now thought to be 1000 times all land-based deposits, some of it in French waters around Tahiti.
The latest discovery is in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone in deep-sea mud around the island of Minami-Torishima. Although it is very deep, the deposits are in highly
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
So, the “rare metals” are not really that rare after all?
amazing how the world is never running out of resources which pisses off the libs who want to put us on an energy deprivation diet.
We make cage locks with this stuff. Locks can’t be picked or cut with normal tools.
Used primarily in the animal research facilities to keep the “tree Huggers” from breaking in and releasing them.
Inneresting!
When I was in school many years ago, a fellow student pointed out that you could put the world’s population in the State of Texas, and everyone one square acre (or some other unit) of land to themselves.
Those metals are usually quite brittle. The one used for magnets (neo-somthing) can easily be smashed into tiny pieces with a hammer.
Well! I just want to celebrate!
And the quality of life?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.