Mineralische

Mineralische is a German adjective used to describe substances, materials, or phenomena that are mineral in character. The term derives from Mineral, which in turn comes from Latin mineralis, and it is widely used in scientific and everyday language to distinguish inorganic, mineral-based materials from organic or synthetic ones. As an attributive adjective, mineralische modifies nouns such as Stoffe, Bestandteile, or Materialien: mineralische Stoffe (mineral substances), mineralische Bestandteile (mineral components), mineralische Materialien (mineral materials).

In geology and mineralogy, the word is used to characterize rocks, soils, and sediments as containing minerals rather than organic matter. In construction and materials science, mineralische Bindemittel refer to binders made from minerals, such as cementitious materials, and mineralische Materialien denote materials derived primarily from mineral constituents rather than organic fibers or polymers.

In consumer contexts, mineralische Kosmetik is a marketing term for cosmetics formulated with mineral ingredients, such as natural mineral pigments and micronized minerals, marketed as offering particular aesthetic or skin benefits. The phrase is common in German-language marketing but is not a strict technical category in all regulatory regimes.

Note that mineralische is typically not used as a standalone noun; the corresponding noun form would be mineralisch or the compound phrases mineralische Stoffe or mineralische Substanzen. The related noun Mineralien denotes the minerals themselves, the chemical elements and compounds that constitute inorganic matter.

See also: Mineral, Mineralogy, Inorganic materials, Mineral cosmetics.