The present invention addresses: the problem of acquiring a microorganism that has an ability to selectively elute a rare earth element contained in a low-grade mine waste material, etc. and providing a method for collecting the rare earth element with a high resource value by using the microorganism; and the problem of identifying a novel microorganism that has an ability to solidify a rare earth element and providing a method for solidifying the rare earth element by using the microorganism. Provided are: a microorganism or mixed microorganisms that have an ability to elute a rare earth element from a rare earth element-containing mineral or a rare earth element-containing waste material; and a microorganism that has an ability to solidify a rare earth element.
