Methods and compositions useful to prevent scale formation and/or diageneous reactivity on mineral surfaces residing or to be placed in subterranean formations, are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: providing an anionic polymer and a cationic surfactant; contacting a mineral surface with the anionic polymer and the cationic surfactant; and allowing the anionic polymer and the cationic surfactant to interact with each other, whereby a film is formed on at least a portion of the mineral surface.