jTernaryPlot is a free, lightweight, open-source software application written in Java that is specifically designed for geoscientists to create and manipulate ternary diagrams. It features an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) and acts as a standalone tool requiring no local installation.
The tool is hosted and available for download on SourceForge. Core Purpose & Use Case
The primary purpose of jTernaryPlot is to help geologists and researchers analyze compositional data representing a three-component system (where the three variables represent proportions that sum to a constant 100%).
Rock Classification: It is widely used to automatically classify igneous and sedimentary rocks based on their mineralogical or chemical composition.
Three-Variable Visuals: It plots data relative to three axes (labeled A, B, and C) configured as an equilateral triangle. Key Technical Features
Platform Independence: Because it is compiled into an executable .jar file, it runs natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux, provided a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) (version 7 or later) is installed.
Automatic Data Normalization: Ternary points strictly require that
. If your raw input data does not add up to 100, jTernaryPlot detects this and prompts you with a dialog box to automatically normalize the proportions.
Zero Installation: It operates as a portable application. You simply download and unzip the approximately 4.5 MB package to start working. Alternative Programming Solutions
If you prefer script-based graphing over a standalone Java app GUI, you can build similar ternary diagrams natively in major coding languages:
Python: Use the px.scatter_ternary function via the Plotly Express Library. R: Use the comprehensive CRAN Ternary Package.
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