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Japanese Team Finds New Source of Rare Earth Elements

Posted by timothy on from the who-the-hell-is-julian-simon? dept.

gyaku_zuki writes "As reported in the BBC, a Japanese survey team has discovered 'vast' quantities of rare earths in international waters in the Pacific Ocean. The search for alternative sources of these expensive elements (used in common consumer electronics including mobile phones) was intensified recently after a territory dispute with China, which produces more than 90% of the world's rare earths, resulted in China blocking export to Japan."

3 of 215 comments (clear)

  1. makes sense by sneakyimp · · Score: 1, Funny

    The elements are probably down there because we've been dumping all our e-Waste into the ocean. We could probably just build a drilling platform on that texas-sized mass of plastic floating out there and start raking in the dough.

    1. Re:makes sense by hoggoth · · Score: 3, Funny

      That was the most polite "woosh" I've ever read.

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  2. Re:So... by The+Clockwork+Troll · · Score: 5, Funny

    US has better Chinese food.

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