mineralises

Mineralises is the third-person singular form of the verb mineralise (British spelling) or mineralize in American usage. It denotes the process of turning something into minerals, or the deposition of minerals within a material. The term is used in several fields with field-specific meanings.

In geology and economic geology, mineralisation refers to the concentration of economically valuable minerals within a rock, forming ore bodies. This often involves transport by hydrothermal fluids, precipitation under changing temperature and pressure, or alteration of pre-existing minerals. Common products include sulfide and oxide ores, precious metals, and phosphates. The study of mineralisation helps explain ore genesis, timing, and resource distribution.

In biology and soil science, mineralisation describes the microbial or enzymatic conversion of organic matter to inorganic nutrients, releasing forms such as ammonium, nitrate, phosphate, and potassium that plants can uptake. It is a central process in nutrient cycling and is influenced by temperature, moisture, substrate quality, and microbial communities. In vertebrates and some invertebrates, mineralisation also refers to the deposition of minerals to hard tissues, such as bone and teeth, where calcium phosphate crystallises as hydroxyapatite.

In environmental sciences, mineralisation can describe the degradation of organic pollutants to inorganic end products, contributing to detoxification and carbon cycling. In biomineralisation research, organisms control mineral deposition to form shells, bones, and teeth, often using organic matrices to guide crystal growth and crystallography.