Mineraalideks

Mineraalideks is the translative plural form of the Estonian noun mineraal (mineral). In linguistic use it expresses a change of state or a designation of something as minerals. The form is common in scientific and geological texts as well as in general language when describing processes that transform a substance into mineral components or classify material as minerals.

Morphology and formation: Estonian makes translative case by adding -ks to the genitive plural of a noun. For mineraal, the nominative plural is mineraalid, the genitive plural is mineraalide, and the translative plural is mineraalideks. Thus mineraalideks can be understood as “into minerals” or “as minerals,” depending on context. This construction allows speakers to describe a result state or role in a concise way.

Usage and examples: In geology and mineral processing the form is used to describe transformations. For example, "Rokk muutub mineraalideks kuumutamisel" means that rock becomes minerals after heating. Another example: "See ühend jaotub mineraalideks ja lihtsamateks ühenditeks," indicating an compound breaks down into minerals and simpler compounds. The translative form is also encountered in analyses that classify substances by their mineral content or during discussions of metamorphic or hydrothermal processes.

See also: translatiivne kääne, Esti grammatik, mineraal.