By using a one-dimension (one spatial coordinate and three-velocity co
mponents), electromagnetic particle simulation code with full ion and
electron dynamics, we have studied the acceleration of heavy ions by a
nonlinear magnetosonic wave in a multi-ion-species plasma. First, we
describe the mechanism of heavy ion acceleration by magnetosonic waves
. We then investigate this by particle simulations. The simulation pla
sma contains four ion species: H, He, O, and Fe. The number density of
He is taken to be 10% of that of H, and those of O and Fe are much lo
wer. Simulations confirm that, as in a single-ion-species plasma, some
of the hydrogen can be accelerated by the longitudinal electric field
formed in the wave. Furthermore, they show that magnetosonic waves ca
n accelerate all the particles of all the heavy species (He, O, and Fe
) by a different mechanism, i.e., by the transverse electric field. Th
e maximum speeds of the heavy species are about the same, of the order
of the wave propagation speed. These are in good agreement with theor
etical prediction. These results indicate that, if high-energy ions ar
e produced in the solar corona through these mechanisms, the elemental
compositions of these heavy ions can be similar to that of the backgr
ound plasma, i.e., the corona.