Due to the intrinsically limited mechanical properties, functionalities and structures of mineral materials made through traditional fabrication approaches, there is a critical need to develop new 3D forming techniques that can construct mineral composite materials and their structures with high performance and functionalities. The Direct Ink Writing (DIW) approach offers many advantages in the fabrication of mineral materials composites, including high precision, cost effectiveness, customized geometry and environmental friendliness. This review gives a comprehensive overview on the state of the art of DIW mineral materials, including materials classification, preparation and properties. It presents the critical steps for processing mineral materials and their effects on the properties and performance of mineral materials. In addition, the applications of DIW in the fields of architecture, tissue engineering, functional micro parts and geological engineering modelling are presented.