Researchers win lottery after discovering 230,000,000 tons of rare mineral that’ll make them billions
- Researchers in Japan have made a huge discovery
- The country has stumbled upon 230 million tons of rare minerals
- This find can certainly boost the already strong economy of the country
Published on Aug 10, 2024 at 2:12 PM (UTC+4)
by Daksh Chaudhary
Last updated on Aug 12, 2024 at 11:23 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Nalin Rawat
Researchers in Japan have made a huge discovery, that could bring in billions.
The country has stumbled upon 230 million tons of rare minerals in the seabed near Minami-Tori-shima island in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
Among the discovered treasures are also 610,000 metric tons of cobalt and 740,000 metric tons of nickel. These minerals are crucial for manufacturing electric car batteries. Jackpot.
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230 million tons of rare minerals discovered in Japan
This finding would certainly boost the country’s already strong economy, helping it become a key player in global manufacturing and technology.
The research was led by The Nippon Foundation and the University of Tokyo, who explored the seabed at depths of 17,000 to 18,700 feet (5,181-5,700 meters), discovering uncovered magnesium nodules.
It would have certainly taken millions of years to form these nodules – some experts think they might have even formed around ancient shark fossils.
However, these are just the predictions, just like how researchers predicted how the Giza Pyramids were built.
The plan is to extract around 3 million tons of these precious minerals each year, starting from 2025.
The extraction process could lead to severe environmental damage – but we are talking about Japan here – one of the most technologically advanced countries.
So they are planning to do that without causing much harm to the marine environment.
A great discovery to boost the country’s economy
It’s no less than winning a lottery for Japan’s electric vehicle industry, especially with automobile brands like Hyundai and Toyota advancing new electric vehicles.
It’s not just the automobile industry that will take advantage of the new cobalt and nickel discovery.
From smartphones to aircraft, and everyday use items like light bulbs, these minerals are essential for making a wide range of products.
Minerals have immense value, for instance, the rarest and most expensive metal, costs about $14,000 per ounce.
Discoveries like these can be a game changer, opening new opportunities for a country.
