Mineralization

Mineralization, including mineral formation referred to in biology and geology, the conversion of substances into inorganic substances. In biology, the starting materials are restricted to organic substances.

In biology and medicine as mineralization on the one hand the degradation of complex organic compounds to low molecular weight inorganic substances designated by microorganisms, such as in dental caries area is such a process. On the other hand thereby the gradual deposition of these inorganic substances, commonly referred to in an organic matrix. Bone formed in this manner, as the teeth, see eg. Retzius Strip.

In geology, chemistry, and is understood as a mineralized or mineralization in general, the conversion to solid inorganic materials, such as the impregnation, the mineralization of the inorganic solutions. The mineralization of water pollutants or CO2 mineralization is one of them.

In geology and chemistry - in the context of soil science - but is mineralization, mineralization mostly used for the degradation of organic to inorganic substances.