Japan finds heavy rare earths dominate seabed deposit

Japan said on Friday that medium and heavy rare earth elements accounted for about 54% of the rare earth content in deep-sea mud recovered off a remote Pacific island, bolstering its push to secure domestic supplies of critical minerals as China tightens export controls. The government-backed mining vessel Chikyu recovered about 50 tonnes of mud during a month-long mission completed in February near Minamitori …

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The world’s new strategic resource: How critical minerals will power the future

Powering everything from electric vehicles and artificial intelligence to advanced defence systems, critical minerals are fast becoming the world’s new strategic resource. As geopolitical tensions intensify and supply chains become increasingly concentrated, access to these minerals is emerging as a defining economic and national security challenge of the 21st century. In its latest Sustainability Research Paper, the Al-Attiyah Foundation examines …

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Lithium Prices Sink To Five-Month Lows Amid Oversupply Jitters

Lithium prices have sunk to a five-month low as the return of previously idled mine capacity triggered fears of a massive market oversupply. Lithium prices on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange (GFEX), the most active lithium carbonate contract, fell to 136,800 yuan ($20,210) per tonne on Wednesday, nearly 30% below their multi-year highs reached in mid-May. The sharp pricing downturn is linked to …

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