A single underwater mud deposit contains enough yttrium to meet global demand for 700 years
Deep beneath the Pacific Ocean, a massive deposit of mineral-rich mud holds enough yttrium to power the global green energy transition for over seven centuries, potentially shifting the world's entire resource landscape.
Located 6,000 meters below the sea near Minamitorishima, Japan, this extraordinary deposit contains 16 million tons of rare earth element-rich mud. At these depths, equipment must withstand pressure equivalent to 60 elephants standing on a single square inch. Using advanced riser pipe systems, the drilling vessel Chikyu can extract yttrium and dysprosium, which are essential for electric vehicle motors and wind turbines.
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