Available Thermodynamic Databases
A comprehensive overview of all thermodynamic databases available in MAGEMin, including their acronyms, chemical systems, phases, and primary references.
Important
The acronyms are used to construct the bulk-rock input file for the app, and link the bulk to a targeted database. The acronyms are also used when using MAGEMin_C to initialize MAGEMin_C.jl with the desired database.
Quick Reference Table
| Acronym | Name | Version | Primary Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| mp | Metapelite | v1.3.0 | White et al., 2014a, 2014b |
| um | Ultramafic | v1.3.2 | Evans & Frost, 2021 |
| mb | Metabasite | v1.3.5 | Green et al., 2016 |
| mtl | Mantle | v1.5.5 | Holland et al., 2013 |
| ig | Igneous | v1.6.2 | Green et al., 2025 (updated from Holland et al., 2018) |
| igad | Igneous alkaline | v1.6.2 | Weller et al., 2024 |
| sb11 | Mantle (Stixrude & Lithgow-Bertelloni) | v1.7.7 | Stixrude & Lithgow-Bertelloni, 2011 |
| sb21 | Mantle (Stixrude & Lithgow-Bertelloni) | v1.7.7 | Stixrude & Lithgow-Bertelloni, 2021 |
| sb24 | Mantle (Stixrude & Lithgow-Bertelloni) | v1.8.0 | Stixrude & Lithgow-Bertelloni, 2024 |
| ume | Ultramafic extended | — | Evans & Frost, 2021 + Green et al., 2016 |
| mpe | Extended metapelite | — | White et al., 2014 + Green et al., 2016 + Franzolin et al., 2011 + Diener et al., 2007 |
| mbe | Extended metabasite | — | Green et al., 2016 + Diener et al., 2007 + Rebay et al., 2022 |
Detailed Database Descriptions
The metapelitic model (extended with MnO, White et al., 2014) allows to compute the mineral assemblage from low temperature to supra-solidus conditions.
- Added March 2023, `MAGEMin v1.3.0`
- White et al., 2014a, 2014b (see http://hpxeosandthermocalc.org)
- K2O-Na2O-CaO-FeO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O-TiO2-O-MnO chemical system
- Pure stoichiometric phases quartz (q), cristobalite (crst), tridymite (trd), coesite (coe), stishovite (stv), kyanite (ky), sillimanite (sill), andalusite (and), rutile (ru), corundum (cor) and sphene (sph).
- Solution phases spinel (spl), biotite (bi), cordierite (cd), orthopyroxene (opx), epidote (ep), garnet (g), ilmenite (ilm), silicate melt (liq), muscovite (mu), ternary feldspar (pl4T), sapphirine (sa), staurolite (st), magnetite (mt), chlorite (chl), chloritoid (ctd) and margarite (ma).
Important Notes
Important
The datasets are only calibrated for a limited range of P, T, and bulk rock conditions. If you go too far outside those ranges, MAGEMin (or most other thermodynamic software packages for that matter) may not converge or give bogus results.
Important
Developing new, more widely applicable, thermodynamic datasets is a huge research topic, which will require funding to develop the models themselves, as well as to perform targeted experiments to calibrate those models.
Warning
For most users, we recommend starting with the relevant single-system database (mp, um, mb, ig, igad, or mtl) before exploring extended/composite databases. When using extended database, mind that all phases are active by default and that the user needs to selected the adequate subset.
Reference Citations
Green, E.C.R., Holland, T.J.B., Powell, R., Weller, O.M., & Riel, N. (2025). Journal of Petrology, 66. doi: 10.1093/petrology/egae079
Weller, O.M., Holland, T.J.B., Soderman, C.R., Green, E.C.R., Powell, R., Beard, C.D., & Riel, N. (2024). New Thermodynamic Models for Anhydrous Alkaline-Silicate Magmatic Systems. Journal of Petrology, 65. doi: 10.1093/petrology/egae098
Holland, T.J.B., Green, E.C.R., & Powell, R. (2022). A thermodynamic model for feldspars in KAlSi₃O₈-NaAlSi₃O₈-CaAl₂Si₂O₈ for mineral equilibrium calculations. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 40, 587-600. doi: 10.1111/jmg.12639
Tomlinson, E.L., & Holland, T.J.B. (2021). A Thermodynamic Model for the Subsolidus Evolution and Melting of Peridotite. Journal of Petrology, 62. doi: 10.1093/petrology/egab012
Holland, T.J.B., Green, E.C.R., & Powell, R. (2018). Melting of Peridotites through to Granites: A Simple Thermodynamic Model in the System KNCFMASHTOCr. Journal of Petrology, 59, 881-900. doi: 10.1093/petrology/egy048
Green, E.C.R., White, R.W., Diener, J.F.A., Powell, R., Holland, T.J.B., & Palin, R.M. (2016). Activity-composition relations for the calculation of partial melting equilibria in metabasic rocks. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 34, 845-869. doi: 10.1111/jmg12211
White, R.W., Powell, R., Holland, T.J.B., Johnson, T.E., & Green, E.C.R. (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, T.J.B., & Powell, R.W. (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
Stixrude, L., & Lithgow-Bertelloni, C. (2011). Thermodynamics of mantle minerals - II. Phase equilibria. Geophysical Journal International, 184, 1456-1475. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2010.04890.x
Stixrude, L., & Lithgow-Bertelloni, C. (2021). Thermal expansivity, heat capacity and isothermal compressibility of the mantle. Geophysical Journal International, 228, 1296-1314. doi: 10.1093/gji/ggab394
Stixrude, L., & Lithgow-Bertelloni, C. (2024). Thermodynamics of mantle minerals – III: the role of iron. Geophysical Journal International, 237(3), 1699-1733. doi: 10.1093/gji/ggae126
Evans, K.A., & Frost, B.R. (2021). Deserpentinization in Subduction Zones as a Source of Oxidation in Arcs: a Reality Check. Journal of Petrology, 62(3), egab016. doi: 10.1093/petrology/egab016
Diener, J.F.A., Powell, R., White, R.W., & Holland, T.J.B. (2007). A new thermodynamic model for clino- and orthoamphiboles in the system Na₂O-CaO-FeO-MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-H₂O-O. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 25, 631-656.
Rebay, G., Powell, R., & Diener, J.F.A. (2022). New activities for the system FeO-MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ with applications to metamorphic rocks. Journal of Metamorphic Geology.
Franzolin, E., Schmidt, M.W., & Poli, S. (2011). Ternary Ca–Fe–Mg carbonates: subsolidus phase relations at 3.5 GPa and a thermodynamic solid solution model including order/disorder. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 161(2), 213-227.