MAGEMin

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MAGEMin - C-library ​

MAGEMin is an open-source parallel code written in C that minimizes the Gibbs free energy of multiphase and multicomponent systems. The main objective of MAGEMin is to provide a stable, consistent and fast phase equilibrium prediction routine.

The function receives bulk-rock composition, pressure and temperature to compute the most stable phase equilibrium. Presently, MAGEMin provides the thermodynamic dataset used natively in THERMOCALC. The thermodynamic datasets are directly translated into C routines and implemented without transformation of variables or coordinate systems, thus eliminating inconsistencies.

The list of all available thermodynamic datasets is presented below.

Warning

The C backend of MAGEMin is not the most user-friendly way to use MAGEMin toolset. We strongly encourage users to try out MAGEMinApp.jl and MAGEMin_C.jl. The only case where using the C backend of MAGEMin is possibly the best solution is when calling MAGEMin as an external library from a pre-existing C or C++ code.

Available thermodynamic databases ​

MAGEMin ships 14 thermodynamic databases - mp, um, mb, mtl, ig, igd, igad, sb11, sb21, sb24, ume, mpe, mbe, and all (a master database unifying every unique solution-phase model across mp/mb/mbe/ig/igd/igad/um/ume/mpe) - plus the DEW aqueous fluid model, available in all and several of the single-system databases.

→ See the full Databases information page for the acronym reference table, per-database chemical systems, phase/end-member listings, and the DEW aqueous fluid model section - kept in one place rather than duplicated here to avoid the two copies drifting apart.

For the command-line arguments used to select a database and configure a run (--db=, --rg=, --buffer=, --DEW_solve_algorithm=, etc.), see MAGEMin command-line reference.

References ​

  • Su et al. (2026). Igneous thermodynamic model (igd database), corrected from Tomlinson & Holland (2021).

  • Green, ECR, Holland, TJB, Powell, R, Weller, OM, & Riel, N (2025). Journal of Petrology, 66, doi: 10.1093/petrology/egae079

  • Weller, OM, Holland, TJB, Soderman, CR, Green, ECR, Powell, R, Beard, CD & Riel, N (2024). New Thermodynamic Models for Anhydrous Alkaline-Silicate Magmatic Systems. Journal of Petrology, 65, doi: 10.1093/petrology/egae098

  • Holland, TJB, Green, ECR & Powell, R (2022). A thermodynamic modelfor feldspars in KAlSi3O8-NaAlSi3O8-CaAl2Si2O8 for mineral equilibrium calculations. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 40, 587-600, doi: 10.1111/jmg.12639

  • Tomlinson, EL & Holland, TJB (2021). A Thermodynamic Model for the Subsolidus Evolution and Melting of Peridotite. Journal of Petrology,62, doi: 10.1093/petrology/egab012

  • Holland, TJB, Green, ECR & Powell, R (2018). Melting of Peridotitesthrough to Granites: A Simple Thermodynamic Model in the System KNCFMASHTOCr. Journal of Petrology, 59, 881-900, doi: 10.1093/petrology/egy048

  • Green, ECR, White, RW, Diener, JFA, Powell, R, Holland, TJB & Palin, RM (2016). Activity-composition relations for the calculationof partial melting equilibria in metabasic rocks. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 34, 845-869, doi: 10.1111/jmg12211

  • White, RW, Powell, R, Holland, TJB, Johnson, TE & Green, ECR (2014). New mineral activity-composition relations for thermodynamic calculations in metapelitic systems. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 32, 261-286, doi: 10.1111/jmg.12071

  • Holland, TJB & Powell, RW (2011). An improved and extended internally consistent thermodynamic dataset for phases of petrological interest, involving a new equation of state for solids. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 29, 333-383, doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1314.2010.00923.x