★ In Biology,
Mineralization (biology) is the process where a substance is converted from an organic substance to an inorganic substance, thereby becoming 'mineralized'.
This may also be a normal biological process which takes place during the life of an organism such as the formation of bone tissue or egg shells, largely with
calcium. Alternatively, it may be a process which begins after death and burial within
sediments by the total replacement of the organic material with various minerals known as
fossilization. Frequently this involves either
calcite or
quartz, but many other minerals such as
pyrite may be involved.
★ In 'geology',
Mineralization (geology) is used to describe the
hydrothermal deposition of economically important
metals in the formation of
orebodies.
★ In 'soil science',
Mineralization (soil) is used to describe the release of organic compounds during decomposition