Secrets from the Earth

Venture deep into the Earth’s foundations and discover the wonder of the mineral wealth that our planet harbours.

We might not always be aware of it, but minerals are all around us: stone is used to build our homes; metal to make coins and machinery; rocks, such as coal, are harnessed to generate energy; and soil, ores and salts power our industries. Between the history of civilisations and that, as old as time itself, of mineral formation, the exhibition delves into the physical and chemical properties of minerals and their uses through the centuries, since prehistoric times.

There is much at stake in light of the scarcity of such resources today. New discoveries could help shape a future that is more respectful of the environment and of living creatures as a whole – but the challenge that lies ahead is a daunting one.

This exhibition is a recognised "Year of Mineralogy 2022" event.

The collection of minerals

With a treasure trove of nearly 10,000 items and ranked among the great French public collections, this exhibition gives pride of place to the museum’s collection of minerals.

Find out more about the collection

The exhibition route

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How minerals form and their properties

Minerals have been part of the Earth’s foundations, right up to its surface, for as long as our planet has existed. Formed under the extreme temperatures and pressure in its deepest layers, then shaped by erosion, they play an instrumental role in the development of life: everything that grows is reliant on mineral substances.

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History of mineral exploitation

Extraction, whether through mining or quarrying, has developed in step with the changes taking place in our societies. We extract minerals for their colours, to craft our tools, make weapons or build our homes.

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The museum’s azurites and fluorites

The collection is internationally acclaimed for these two types of minerals. Just 15 miles or so from Lyon, the Chessy and Saint-Bel mines are associated with a blue copper carbonate mineral called azurite, some of the world’s finest specimens of which can be found here in this very museum. Harbouring over 1,500 pieces, the fluorite collection comes in large part from those once owned by the French geological engineer Alexis Chermette.

Oct 2021

Aug 2022

Exhibitions

On the Trail of the Sioux

Apr 2022

Mar 2023

Exhibitions

Magic

Dec 2020

Dec 2022

Exposition L'oiseau rare, de l'hirondelle au kakapo

Exhibitions

Rare Birds

From the Swallow to the Kakapo