Educational resources

The collections of the Mineralogy Museum of Mines Paris – PSL, developed over the course of two centuries, are today of strategic importance for understanding the links between geological resources, geopolitics, technological development and ecological transition.

A place of knowledge and sharing, the Museum shares scientific knowledge linked to the mineral world. Through educational resources, multimedia supports and awareness-raising actions, it plays a mediating role between science, society and contemporary issues.

A museum committed to accessible science

The Museum is not limited to the conservation and exhibition of minerals: it participates in the scientific promotion of its collections, by producing and sharing content intended for a wide audience: teachers, students, researchers or those curious about mineralogy.

These resources allow us to better understand the essential role of minerals in our daily lives and in the major challenges of the 21st century:

sustainable exploitation of natural resources
energy transition
new technologies
geopolitical issues linked to strategic materials

Through its actions, the Museum aims to promote a critical, documented and enlightened approach to Earth sciences, while highlighting the educational potential of its historical collections.

Visit guides

Minerals of the collection

This visit guide presents, room by room, the must-see minerals of the museum. A physical version is available to consult at the museum. Minerals with significant aesthetic, scientific or historical value, as well as gems, meteorites and synthetic crystals, are presented in the booklet.

Paintings

Upon arrival to the School of Mines, and more particularly to the staircase that leads to the museum, visitors are immersed in a rich decor of paintings, representing iconic geological landscapes, rocks and important figures in the fields of mineralogy and geology. This guide, in French, teaches more about the historical elements of the School and the Museum.

Minerals and pigments

A thematic visit, focused on mineral pigments is available to follow in the permanent collection of the museum. This guide in French presents the minerals that have been used as pigments in painting, textiles, cosmetics and many other uses, for thousands of years until today.