In this paper, Zr:Fe:LiNbO3 crystals with various Li/Nb ratios were grown by the Czochralski method from melts having compositions varying between 48.6 and 58 mol% Li2O. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma optical emission/mass spectrometry (ICP-OE/MS), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption and the infrared (IR) spectrum were measured and are discussed in terms of the spectroscopic characterization. It was found that as the Li/Nb ratio increases in the melt, the Li/Nb ratio in the crystal also increases, the distribution coefficients of Fe and Zr ions decrease, the absorption edge shifts to a shorter wavelength, and the ZrO2 threshold concentration of the samples decreases. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.