Effect of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of high purity MA2-1(Mg-5wt.%Al-lwt.%Zn-0.4wt.%Mn) alloy sheet were investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the microstructure of high purity MA2-1 alloy sheet annealed consisted of alpha-Mg solid solution, beta (Mg(17)Al(12)) phase and Al-Mn phases such as Al(6)Mn and Al(10)Mn(3). beta phase dissolved into alpha-Mg solid solution during the solution treatment and formed supersaturated alpha-Mg solid solution. After aging at the temperatures of 423 K, 473 K and 523 K for 12 hours, beta phase precipitated from the supersaturated alpha-Mg solid solution. Optical microscope observation found that the grain size of the MA-2-1 alloy sheet became larger after heat treatment. As a result, the mechanical properties of the MA2-1 alloy sheet such as the tensile strength and yield strength declined after the heat treatment.