Mineralisation

Mineralisation is a term used in several scientific disciplines to describe processes that involve the formation, deposition, or transformation of minerals. In geology and economic geology it typically refers to the concentration and emplacement of economically valuable minerals within rocks, often by fluid transport and precipitation. In biology and medicine it denotes the formation of mineralised tissues or structures, such as bone or teeth, and in soil science it describes the microbial conversion of organic matter into inorganic nutrients.

Geological mineralisation occurs when mineral-rich fluids move through rocks and precipitate minerals as veins, disseminations, or layers. It often arises from hydrothermal circulation, magmatic processes, or diagenetic and sedimentary changes. Ore deposits form as metals such as copper, lead, zinc, gold, or silver crystallize with sulphides, carbonates, or silicates. The timescale ranges from thousands to millions of years, and mineralisation can be episodic or continuous.

Biological mineralisation refers to the deposition of minerals in tissues. In animals, calcium phosphate forms bone and dentin, while enamel is highly mineralised. Cells such as osteoblasts and odontoblasts direct this process, essential for structure and metabolism. Abnormal mineralisation can occur as ectopic calcification or pathological deposition.

Soil mineralisation describes microbial breakdown of organic matter to inorganic nutrients, notably ammonium, nitrate, and phosphate, which plants absorb. Rates depend on temperature, moisture, substrate quality, and microbial activity. This process is a key component of nutrient cycling and soil fertility.

Mineralisation has practical implications in mining, archaeology, medicine, and ecology, influencing ore exploration, understanding fossil formation, and managing nutrients in agricultural systems.