Japan is going to start a unique mission of deep sea mining. This project will start its work from January 2026. It is going to be a puzzle in the history of the world to extract rare earth elements from the bottom of the sea. This mission is to find rare minerals. This work will be done with the help of special pipes, these pipes are designed to withstand the immense pressure of the deep sea. The mineral elements gadolinium will be used in medicine, which will allow us to discover fast, easy and cheap treatments, other mineral elements such as dysprosium, neodymium, and terbium are important for making our cars, wind turbines and modern electronics better and faster. We can expect that we can discover new minerals from this deep sea mining, which are even better.
The Chikyu ship will be used to carry out the work of the extraordinary depth of the sea. In Japanese, Chikyu means “earth”. This rare ship is the creation of Mitsubishi heavy industries. The ship was given 2005 to the Japanese Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC).
Features of the Chikyu ship
The purpose of the Chikyu ship, which has modern technology, is to mine in the deep sea. This ship has been designed to work easily up to 7,000 meters. This ship has the honor of being the most modern ship equipped with the latest technology in the world. It can easily and robustly carry out the difficult task of mining in the deep sea. There is a blowout preventer system to prevent back-up pressure in the drill pipe that can easily handle 103MPa, or about 14,939 psi. Sediment has the potential to be excavated at a rate of about 300 meters per day, while hard materials like rock can be excavated at a slower rate of 50 meters per day. This ship has also played a role in earthquake investigation and scientific research. This ship is unparalleled, it has no equal.
The drilling system of the Chikyu ship
This ship is equipped with modern technology equipment and sensors. The riser drilling system in it is capable of easily carrying out the difficult task of maintaining the stability of the mud circulation wellbore pressure drilling. This technology is taken from offshore oil and gas drilling. The system in it does not allow its position to be disturbed even in the strong waves of the sea during work and helps in the accuracy of drilling. Its strong drilling pipe is capable of withstanding the powerful pressure of the sea and the mineral-rich soil in a better way.
Drilling derrick of the Chikyu ship
The drilling derrick is found on every sea mining ship. It is a longitudinal structure of steel mesh. It is very important for the drilling operation. Chikyu’s drilling derrick is the most unique. It is 121 meters long and weighs about one thousand tons. It is unmatched in strength. There is no larger derrick in the world yet.
Mission Profile
This project will last for three weeks in 2026, during which 35 tons of soil will be extracted from the seabed. If there is sufficient success, the duration of this project will be extended in stages until 2027. This mission includes all kinds of support from the Japanese government.
Processing
According to sources, it has the ability to filter rare earth minerals from the seabed at a rate of 2 kilograms per ton, and this marine waste is then recycled back into the sea using environmentally friendly modern technology for marine life.
Japan’s goal
Japan wants to become self-sufficient in natural minerals, while currently relying on foreign countries, especially China, which currently dominates the global market and has a large number of mineral reserves.
Environmental protection
The Chikyu ship is equipped with modern technology to better understand the aquatic life and environment of the deep sea, which helps track and reduce light, noise and sediment pollution, and he is an expert in the conservation of aquatic life.
Why was Chikyu chosen
The ship’s latest technology drilling skills make it important for mining in depth of water to 6,000 meters, because its strength is unparalleled, which is a major step in the development of maritime resources. If Japan succeeds in this mission, Japan can be considered an ideal leader in extracting natural mineral resources from the deep sea. And it can be honored because the hard work and honesty of the Japanese people is not hidden from anyone.
Concerns
Some people are concerned about this mission that an atmosphere of chaos and fear will be created in the aquatic life of the deep sea, which may lead to the extinction of their species.
Japan will have to proceed with all its caution in this matter and ensure the protection of mineral resources and aquatic life by utilizing all its resources. And I hope Japan will succeed in this in a good way.
I pray to God to keep you and me under his protection. If our post has increased your knowledge, please share it with others, and comment. Thank you.
