Magnesioferrite spinel, MgFe 2 O 4 , was synthesized at 900 °C from equimolar amounts of reagent-grade oxides, MgO and Fe 2 O 3 , and quenched in air. The structural behavior of magnesioferrite was determined from in situ synchrotron X-ray powder-diffraction data [λ = 0.92225(4) A] at room pressure and temperatures from 28 to 982 °C on heating and cooling. The a unit-cell parameter increases linearly on heating, but deviates to give a discontinuity at 581 °C. Above 581 °C and on cooling from 982 °C, the a parameter varies linearly. The a parameter at 28 °C before heating [8.39704(5) A] and after cooling to 47 °C [8.39514(4) A] is different because the cation order frozen in the structure is not the same. Cation order, analyzed in terms of the inversion parameter, x, { i v [Mg 1 - x Fe x ] v i [Mg x / 2 Fe 1 - x / 2 ] 2 O 4 }, and the order parameter, Q=1 - (3/2) x, show no change on heating until the temperature is high enough to cause exchange of Mg 2 + and Fe 3 + cations between the octahedral and tetrahedral sites. This activation barrier is overcome at 581 °C, where the sample achieves the maximum ordered state on heating [x m a x = 0.867(4)] and begins to move toward equilibrium. This relaxation is toward a more ordered configuration and is a kinetically controlled process. Above 581 °C, the cations continuously disorder along the equilibrium pathway to the maximum temperature studied [T m a x = 982 °C, x = 0.769(3)] and reverse along the equilibrium pathway on cooling. At T B , the maximum equilibrium order is frozen in, and maintained to room temperature, where x m a x = 0.895(4). O'Neill-Navrotsky, Landau, and Ginzburg-Landau models give good descriptions of the ordering process in MgFe 2 O 4 . Simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG) data were obtained using a Netzsch STA 449C simultaneous TG-DSC instrument. The DSC curve for MgFe 2 O 4 contains an irreversible exothermic peak at about 550 °C = T r e l a x in the first heating experiment, and the energy change associated with this peak is -162 J/g (= -32 KJ/mol), and corresponds to cation relaxation. From Rietveld refinements, T r e l a x 581 °C. The T C u r i e 360 °C was obtained from TG experiments carried out in a magnetic field.