# SPICEs: Simulating Planetary Igneous Crystallization Environments

> calculate fractional and equilibrium crystallization sequences

**Wikidata**: [Q106692703](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q106692703)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/spices-simulating-planetary-igneous-crystallization-environments

## Summary
SPICEs (Simulating Planetary Igneous Crystallization Environments) is a software application designed to calculate fractional and equilibrium crystallization sequences in planetary igneous systems, typically used for studying magma crystallization processes.

## Key Facts
- Developed by Brad L. Jolliff and others (Jesse Davenport, Clive Neal, John Longhi, Diogo Bolster) and published by the Lunar and Planetary Institute
- Published in September 2013 with a website at https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/tools/crystallizationcalculation/
- Written in MATLAB programming language
- Focuses on magma and crystallization processes
- Originates from the United States and published in Houston
- Described as an application for calculating fractional and equilibrium crystallization sequences

## FAQs
### Q: What is SPICEs used for?
A: SPICEs is a software application used to calculate fractional and equilibrium crystallization sequences in planetary igneous systems.

### Q: Who developed SPICEs?
A: SPICEs was developed by Brad L. Jolliff and a team including Jesse Davenport, Clive Neal, John Longhi, and Diogo Bolster.

### Q: What programming language is SPICEs written in?
A: SPICEs is written in MATLAB.

### Q: Where can I find the SPICEs software?
A: The software is available at https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/tools/crystallizationcalculation/.

## Why It Matters
SPICEs: Simulating Planetary Igneous Crystallization Environments is a significant tool in planetary science that addresses the complex processes of magma crystallization. It allows researchers to model how different minerals crystallize from molten rock under various conditions, which is crucial for understanding planetary formation and evolution. The software provides both fractional crystallization (where early-formed minerals are removed from the melt) and equilibrium crystallization (where minerals crystallize simultaneously) calculations, enabling more accurate interpretations of igneous rock compositions and the geological histories of planetary bodies. By providing these computational capabilities, SPICEs has become an essential resource for scientists studying volcanic processes, magma chamber dynamics, and the petrological evolution of planets and their moons.

## Notable For
- Provides both fractional and equilibrium crystallization calculations for planetary igneous systems
- Developed by a team of researchers including Brad L. Jolliff and published by the Lunar and Planetary Institute
- Written in MATLAB and available through the Lunar and Planetary Institute's website
- Focuses specifically on magma and crystallization processes in planetary contexts
- Published in 2013 as a specialized application for geoscience research

## Body
### Technical Overview
SPICEs is a specialized software application designed to calculate crystallization sequences in planetary igneous environments. The program implements both fractional and equilibrium crystallization models, allowing users to simulate how minerals crystallize from molten rock under different conditions.

### Development and Publication
The software was developed by Brad L. Jolliff and a team of researchers including Jesse Davenport, Clive Neal, John Longhi, and Diogo Bolster. It was published by the Lunar and Planetary Institute in September 2013. The application originates from the United States and was published in Houston.

### Programming and Accessibility
SPICEs is written in MATLAB, a fourth-generation programming language that was first developed in 1970. The software is available through the Lunar and Planetary Institute's website at https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/tools/crystallizationcalculation/, which is presented in English.

### Application Areas
The primary application of SPICEs is in the study of magma and crystallization processes. It's particularly valuable for understanding how igneous rocks form on planetary bodies and how their compositions evolve over time. The software helps researchers interpret geological data and model the complex processes occurring within planetary interiors.

### Computational Capabilities
The program calculates both fractional crystallization sequences (where early-formed minerals are removed from the melt) and equilibrium crystallization sequences (where minerals crystallize simultaneously). This dual capability allows for more comprehensive modeling of igneous processes and provides insights into the petrological evolution of planetary bodies.