Abstract
This compilation of publication results from more than 20 years of questioning and of applyingstructural geology in mining geology by the guest editor. If it is common to place the various depositsof the earth into large classes that allow recognizing and identifying some characters useful to detect,explore, and find other similar deposits, experience demonstrates that each deposit is unique andcannot answer perfectly to a generic model. This is why we suspect that there exists a gap betweentheory (i.e., the classical model) and reality that needs to be estimated and taken into account inany type expertise or study of an unknown mineral deposit. The following publications try to beconcerned by this way of working.My knowledge and interest in the structural control of mineral deposits benefited from severaldiscussions, suggestions, and field trip shared with a lot of persons that are greatly acknowledgedhere. An exhaustive list is impossible, but I want to particularly acknowledge the CVRD (Vale),Buenaventura, Cedimin, Managem, Kasbah Resource, CMS, SMI, and CTT mining companies andall geologists that took the time to discuss with me of structural problems in mining geology, witha special mention of A.S. Andr ́e, L. Badra, L. Bailly, L. Barbanson, Y. Branquet, X. Charonnat,A. Ennaciri, C. Ennaciri, M. Faure, L. Fontbot ́e,. A. Gaouzi, S. Gialli, E. Gloaguen, M. Iseppi;K. Kouzmanov, J. Onezime, P. Piantone, S. Sizaret, E. Tourneur, J. Tuduri, N. Volland. All the reviewersthat significantly improved the quality of this book are also warmly acknowledged