Japanese researchers have discovered [plenty / enough] reserves of rare-earth metals (REMs) to [satisfy / satisfaction] global demand for up to 700 years. Oceanographers surveyed the deep-sea [dirt / mud] on the Pacific Ocean [ceiling / floor] near Japan's Ogasawara Islands, which are about 2,000 kilometers [southeast / southern] of Tokyo. Scientists say the minerals find, "has the [potential / potent] to supply these metals on a semi-infinite [basic / basis] to the world". Researchers from Waseda University and the University of Tokyo estimate the area they [lapped / mapped] contains more than 16 million [tins / tons] of rare-earth metals. They added that the area offers "great potential as ore deposits for some of the most [criticized / critically] important elements in modern society".
A rare-earth metal is one of a set of seventeen chemical elements in the [periodic / period] table. They have what many of us would [consider / considering] to be [relatively / relative] unknown names, like europium, promethium scandium and terbium. The uses, applications, and [demand / demanded] of rare-earth elements have greatly increased [to / with] our reliance on high-tech products. They are [width / widely] used in the production of electric motors for [hybrid / rabid] vehicles, wind turbines, hard disc drives, portable electronics, microphones, speakers and a [whole / hole] array of other products. Around 90 per cent of the world's supply of REMs used to manufacture [advancing / advanced] electronics currently comes from China. The discovery near Japan could [bring / go] down prices.
