The article analyzes the argumentative trajectory of mining revival in the French newspapers between 2009 and 2019. After describing how experts and administrative departments built the statement of mining revival in a confined space, we show how this statement is criticized in the French newspapers and how mining revival became an environmental threat and a denial of democratic participation. Based on semi-structured interviews and the analysis of 699 newspaper articles, the article underlines three weaknesses of the mining revival proposal participating to its failure in the media forum : the inadequacy of the speculative model of junior companies of exploration, the inconsistency and inconstancy of the political leadership, and an unfitted regime of justification based on technical expertise. We highlight how the reach of public policy statements is determined by their ability to be addressed in both confined and public debate spaces and to adapt to their own structure of rules and feasibility regimes.