Mineraliserat

Mineraliserat is an adjective used primarily in geology, mining and related fields, derived from the verb mineralisera (to mineralize). In Swedish, the term describes rocks, soils or formations that have been enriched with minerals or contain minerals as a result of deposition processes. The corresponding English term is mineralized.

Geological mineralisation refers to the emplacement and concentration of economically valuable minerals within a host rock. It can occur through hydrothermal processes, where hot, metal-bearing fluids precipitate minerals in fractures or disseminate grains within the rock; through metasomatic replacement, where fluids alter the mineralogy; or through magmatic differentiation and sedimentary diagenesis. Primary mineralisation forms ore bodies and veins; secondary (or supergene) mineralisation develops near the surface after weathering, often concentrating metals in oxidized or enriched zones.

Mineralised zones are typically characterized by the presence of ore minerals (for example sulfides of copper, lead, zinc, or native metals such as gold and silver) along with gangue minerals like quartz or calcite. The textures may include vein fill, fracture filling, breccias, or replacement halos. Economic evaluation relies on grade, tonnage, and spatial distribution.

In dental and biological contexts, the term can refer to tissues or deposits that have undergone mineralization, such as calcified dental plaque (tartar) or mineralized bone and cartilage.

See also: Mineralization; Ore deposit; Hydrothermal ore genesis; Biomineralization.