A RARE EARTH - Can local mining be sustainable, support communities, play a crucial role in Europe’s energy strategic autonomy, and respect environmental standards? This photo-documentary investigates the reopening of the Silius mine in Sardinia’s remote Gerrei region, home to one of Europe’s largest Fluorite deposits and newly discovered rare earth elements. We document an uncommon scenario where mining is backed by the local population, guided by scientific research, and subject to strict European environmental oversight.