[B-PT23] 地球史解読：冥王代から現代まで

[BPT23-21] 南鳥島周辺EEZ内のレアアース泥　-最新研究成果の概観-

*加藤 泰浩¹、藤永 公一郎¹、中村 謙太郎¹、安川 和孝¹、大田 隼一郎¹、高谷 雄太郎²、飯島 耕一²、野崎 達生²、木村 純一²、鈴木 勝彦²、岩森 光² (1.東京大学工学系研究科、2.海洋研究開発機構)

In 2013, we confirmed the presence of rare-earth elements and yttrium (REY)-rich mud containing more than 6,000 ppm of total REY within the Japanese Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surrounding Minamitorishima Island. Since the discovery of the “extremely REY-rich mud”, we have conducted a variety of approaches such as geochemical analyses, detailed microscopic observations, REY-leaching experiments, application of sub-bottom profiling to the exploration, and statistical analysis of the geochemical data set, towards the exploitation of the new and highly promising REY-resource in the near future. Here we report a general overview of the latest research results on REY-rich mud in the Minamitorishima EEZ.