The current state and most promising directions of kinetic investigati
ons are discussed. The results of theoretical and experimental studies
on reactions of congruent mineral dissolution were used to show some
characteristics of reaction mechanisms and to elucidate the dependence
of reaction rates on such kinetic parameters as the temperature, pH,
concentrations of dissolved components (catalysts and inhibitors), deg
ree of equilibrium, surface area, and activity of minerals. The sugges
ted overall rate law includes all these parameters. There is a lack of
kinetic data on reactions of incongruent mineral dissolution, which a
re most typical for natural processes. Detailed observations show that
kinetic features and reaction mechanisms are identical in natural env
ironments and experiments, however the reaction rates measured in the
field are usually lower than the laboratory results. Possible factors
responsible for this distinction are considered along with basic equat
ions describing the rate of chemical reactions, fluid filtration throu
gh the rock, and diffusion of components in the solution. These equati
ons were used to ground the mathematical simulation of natural geochem
ical systems and their time-space evolution. Reported are the estimate
d time values required to approach the local chemical equilibrium at g
iven conditions, and techniques for simple data scaling at varying con
ditions. As shown, reactions at the boundaries between metasomatic zon
es and in the thermogradient systems may deviate from the equilibrium
state throughout the entire period of fluid filtration. The considered
examples of experimental modeling illustrate its efficiency for testi
ng the results of mathematical simulation, and in elucidating the summ
ary kinetic effects of complex geochemical processes.