The main objects, dealt with in this publication, are structurally manifold and functionally diversified economic complexes of various sizes and affiliations, engaged in industrial and commercial operations with mineral resources (MRs) – their exploration, mining, processing, marketing, delivering to consumers, and, ultimately, subjecting to all sorts of scientific studies. With respect to these industrial MRs objects (MROs), two discussed major closely intertwined ‘backbones’ are: (1) their structural composition, which at varying adequacy levels are reflected in mutually competing theoretic and applied scientific conceptions, and (2) steadily advancing, but often conspicuously incoherent methodologies and practices of these objects’ strategic management, applied by particular countries and transnational corporations.
Information basis for the study was compiled upon the legacy of Russia and the former USSR, where strategic projects’ elaboration and realization, involving among others mining industries, are being carried out at least since the mid XIX century. Concerning other countries, prime attention was devoted to those that insignificant amounts possess, mine, process, and industrially utilize MRs – Australia, Canada, China, India, SAR, USA, et al. Owing to three-decades-long in-depth studying and monitoring of MROs’ functioning and development, certain sets of regularities and steady tendencies were discerned. Besides, a ranked set of theoretic and applied concepts was elaborated, to some extent summarized herein.