Hardus Viljoen took four wickets, but a century from Paul Collingwood has put Durham in a good position after Day One at Emirates Riverside.
Collingwood hit his third century of the campaign, while there were also half centuries for Cameron Steel and Paul Coughlin as Durham reached 376-7 at stumps.
Viljoen was the pick of the Derbyshire bowlers with 4-100, but it was the hosts who enjoyed the better of the opening day.
The floodlights were on at the start and end of the day for a Derbyshire attack in which Harry Podmore, on loan from Middlesex, was making his debut. He was accurate and got past the bat a few times but ended the day without reward.
Derbyshire made the perfect start to the day when Viljoen had England Test opener Keaton Jennings caught behind off the first delivery of the match. But a sound contribution of 72 from Steel began the recovery.
Tom Latham scored only five off his first 36 balls, but then cut Tony Palladino (2-63) for two fours before shaping to drive and having his off stump rattled.
Viljoen nipped one back to bowl Jack Burnham for nine during a second spell in which he also troubled Steel. He was missed at third slip on 38, and it was a thicker edge wide of the slips which gave him his ninth four and took him to his half-century off 81 balls.
Left-armer Luis Reece broke a fourth-wicket stand of 53 when Steel drove at a ball slanted across him and edged low to Wayne Madsen at slip.
Michael Richardson edged Viljoen behind for 20 and Ryan Pringle made 19 before hooking Palladino straight to long leg.
Pringle’s exit left Durham in danger of under-achieving on 217-6, but Coughlin eased to 33 against the old ball then cut loose against the new one.
He contributed 68 as part of a stand of 130 with Collingwood, a record for the seventh wicket versus Derbyshire. He fell lbw to Viljoen just before stumps.
The day, however, belonged to 41-year-old Collingwood who displayed his class with 127 not out off 176 balls.
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