http://inhabitat.com/japan-finds-vast-reserves-of-rare-earth-minerals-that-could-be-used-to-make-solar-panels-and-other-electronics/ Green design & eco innovation for a better world Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:48:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc http://inhabitat.com/japan-finds-vast-reserves-of-rare-earth-minerals-that-could-be-used-to-make-solar-panels-and-other-electronics/comment-page-1/#comment-344852 caeman Tue, 05 Jul 2011 23:20:56 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/?p=272385#comment-344852 In theory, the hydrological cycle would replenish the oceans. In theory, the hydrological cycle would replenish the oceans.

]]> http://inhabitat.com/japan-finds-vast-reserves-of-rare-earth-minerals-that-could-be-used-to-make-solar-panels-and-other-electronics/comment-page-1/#comment-344805 lazyreader Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:18:41 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/?p=272385#comment-344805 Maybe rare earths are not so rare. There should be an adequate supply to sustain industrial needs for many decades. A few years ago they announced Japanese scientists can extract minerals from sea water. They can separate uranium from the water, while not yet nearly as economical compared to surface mining. However it holds promise for future extraction, nearly a thousand times as abundant than in the ground. With this kind of mining we may hold vast reserves of 57 trace minerals and metals. My concern is, don't marine life in the sea also need those minerals to live such as magnesium and calcium, not rare earth elements. Maybe rare earths are not so rare. There should be an adequate supply to sustain industrial needs for many decades. A few years ago they announced Japanese scientists can extract minerals from sea water. They can separate uranium from the water, while not yet nearly as economical compared to surface mining. However it holds promise for future extraction, nearly a thousand times as abundant than in the ground. With this kind of mining we may hold vast reserves of 57 trace minerals and metals. My concern is, don’t marine life in the sea also need those minerals to live such as magnesium and calcium, not rare earth elements.

]]> http://inhabitat.com/japan-finds-vast-reserves-of-rare-earth-minerals-that-could-be-used-to-make-solar-panels-and-other-electronics/comment-page-1/#comment-344799 caeman Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:26:47 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/?p=272385#comment-344799 Hooray for something to challenge China's dominance. Hooray for something to challenge China’s dominance.

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