Abstract
This opening lecture places mineral resources in the context of natural resources, and outlines the "lessons of history" that have seen the gradual appropriation of rocks and minerals by mankind, while also illustrating the often forgotten impacts of their exploitation. The importance of mineral raw materials in our daily lives, their presence in the most varied of uses and their major role in the world's major economic balances illustrate the dynamics of this field. The two main aspects of the Chair's lectures were then discussed. On the one hand, a "naturalistic" and physico-chemical vision of mineral resources, illustrated by the direct inheritance of the properties of industrial minerals from their crystalline structure, as well as by the unique testimony to the history of the Earth and the functioning of our planet provided by the study of major metal deposits. Secondly, the "sustainable development" aspect of mineral resources, illustrated by the environmental impact of mining, the criticality of the resource and recycling.
