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Since the late 1990s, abiotic nature (or geodiversity) has been internationnaly recognized, scientifically and institutionally, with growing interest from different disciplines. Geodiversity was first defined in the sphere of geosciences, and also become an object of geographical research. However, it seems that the abiotic nature is struggling to find its place in the research conducted by French geographers on nature. The purpose of this contribution is to establish a position which describes theoretical basis and methods which characterize the researches conducted on the non-living nature. This reflection addresses three issues which aim questioning the abiotic nature as a geographical object : 1) the (de)connection between living and non-living nature, 2) the nature / culture dichotomy and 3) the geography / geosciences relationships. Despite of the problems associated with the recognition of geodiversity as an object of "nature" and as a part of a geographical and cultural view, the intensity and the originality of research on the abiotic nature show that it is not an ignored nature.