magmaiset

Magmaiset is a term used in petrology to denote a hypothetical mineral phase that would form at extreme magmatic conditions. The name combines magma, referring to molten rock, with silicate, indicating its silicate-rich composition. It is not officially recognized as a mineral in current mineralogical catalogs; it appears chiefly in pedagogical models and speculative research.

Proposed characteristics include a dense, glassy to crystalline phase with a lattice closely related to silicate perovskites. Reported compositions in thought experiments emphasize Mg-Fe-rich silicates with minor aluminum, calcium, and titanium. The phase is expected to be stable at high temperatures and pressures common in deep crust or upper mantle during rapid crystallization or partial melting.

In models, Magmaiset is predicted to occur transiently during high-temperature differentiation of basaltic magmas or during solid-state transformations of glass-rich melts. It serves as a teaching example for phase equilibria and crystallization sequences in magmatic systems.

Because Magmaiset is not observed directly in natural samples and remains hypothetical, its existence is debated. Experimental petrology and high-pressure synthesis are cited as necessary steps to confirm any real mineral analog.

See also: mineralogy, silicate minerals, petrology.