A new d1 Ti3+ center, which was created by the X-irradiation of synthetic zircon crystals at 77K, was studied by using electron paramagnetic resonance methods at 10K. The impurity ion was believed to occupy a Zr4+ substitutional site; as in the case of the previously reported B(Ti3+) center. It was noted that interaction with an 89Y nucleus in a nearest-neighbor Zr4+ site decreased the site symmetry from tetragonal ¯42m (4/mmm) to monoclinic m (2/m).

R.F.C.Claridge, K.C.Taylor, W.C.Tennant, C.J.Walsby: Journal of Physics - Condensed Matter, 1997, 9[14], 3075-80