Sweden says it found the largest deposit in Europe of rare earths — ingredients in a host of technologies from e-vehicles to wind turbines. Mining and processing them is another story.

At the center of Tuesday's election was a rare-earth mining project that has seen those favoring greater development square off against others who want more environmental safeguards.

Greenlanders are going to the polls Tuesday in a crucial election that could determine if the island taps its vast deposits of rare-earth minerals to fuel eventual independence from Denmark.