MINES Thermodynamic Database

Welcome to the MINES 2019 thermodynamic dataset! This project is an initiative to generate a revised internally consistent thermodynamic dataset for minerals, aqueous species and gases for simulating geochemical processes at hydrothermal conditions in the upper crust (≤5 kbar and ≤600 °C) with focus on ore forming processes. This open access dataset is maintained with the aid of the program GEM-Selektor. To install the database follow the instructions below. In addition, several modeling project files (Modules) have been prepared to get you started with GEMS. To run these, please follow the instructions in the GEMS Tutorials section.

Latest Version: (updated June, 2021)

• MINES 19.1 (can select phases with or without solid solutions, for advanced or beginner users respectively)
• Database documentation and installation guide
• Reference list (.xlsx file)
• Screenshots of installation

Prior Versions:

• MINES 19
• MINES 18
• MINES 17
• MINES 16
• MINES 15

Current and future MINES database features

The philosophy of the MINES database follows a rolling release approach, meaning that new versions will become available once updated with the following features:

• Major rock forming mineral properties from Holland and Powell (1998)
• Selected mineral properties from the Robie and Hemingway (1995) USGS database.
• Revised SUPCRT92 data for aqueous species
• Experimental data for REE-, Sn-, Al-, and Zr-bearing minerals/aqueous species and metals for studying hydrothermal ore deposits.
• Mineral multisite and multicomponent solid solution activity models (e.g., feldspars, chlorite, epidote, phyllosilicates).
• Gases equations of state for H₂O, CO₂ , O₂ , H₂ , CO, CH₄ , HF, HCl, H₂S, SO₂ .

GEMSFITS will be used in future versions for the compilation of thermodynamic properties and experimental data in the open JSON format. The latter provides a flexible way to organize and import experimental data and the possibility to export and adopt the MINES database in other commonly used free numerical modeling programs.

References

1. Gysi, A.P., Williams-Jones, A.E. (2013) Hydrothermal mobilization of pegmatite-hosted Zr and REE at Strange Lake, Canada: A reaction path model. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 122, 324-352.
2. Gysi, A.P. (2017) Numerical simulations of CO2 sequestration in basaltic rock formations: challenges for optimizing mineral-fluid reactions. Pure and Applied Chemistry 89, 581-596.

Contributors

• Nicole Hurtig — New Mexico Tech
• Dmitrii Kulik — Paul Scherrer Institute
• Dan Miron — Paul Scherrer Institute

Acknowledgments

Database development, data compilation for critical elements and student support was possible through the sponsorship by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy.

• NSF grant EAR-2032761 (1649656) and NSF CAREER EAR-2039674 (1845258) to Alexander Gysi.
• Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy, Grant No. DE-SC0021106 to Alexander Gysi.

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Alexander Gysi
Economic Geologist
New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources
New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology
801 Leroy Place
Socorro NM 87801-4796
575-835-5754
Alexander.Gysi@nmt.edu