[B-PT05] 地球史解読：冥王代から現代まで

[BPT05-01] 南鳥島周辺EEZ内におけるレアアース泥研究の最新成果

*加藤 泰浩^1,2,3、藤永 公一郎^3,1、中村 謙太郎^1,2、安川 和孝^1,3、大田 隼一郎¹、高谷 雄太郎^4,1、飯島 耕一²、町田 嗣樹^2,1、野崎 達生^2,1、木村 純一²、鈴木 勝彦²、岩森 光^2,5 (1.東京大学大学院工学系研究科システム創成学専攻、2.海洋研究開発機構、3.千葉工業大学、4.早稲田大学創造理工学部環境資源工学科、5.東京工業大学)

キーワード：深海底鉱物資源、レアアース泥、南鳥島

Three years have passed since the amazingly fruitful research cruise KR13-02 resulted in a discovery of deep-sea mud extremely enriched in rare-earth elements and yttrium (REY) within the Japanese exclusive economic zone (EEZ) surrounding Minaimitorishima Island. The mud with maximum total REY content of ~8,000 ppm strongly attracts our attention as an unconventional and highly promising deep-sea mineral resource. Subsequent six cruises, i.e., MR13-E02, KR14-02, MR14-E02, MR15-E01 Leg 2 and Leg 3, and MR15-02, have highlighted that the southern part of the Minamitorishima EEZ appears to be the unique area where the “extremely REY-rich mud” lies at very shallow depth (2 to 4 m) below the seafloor. In the presentation, we report a general overview of our latest findings from various approaches to REY-rich mud in the Minamitorishima EEZ including chemical, physical, statistical and engineering techniques.