The effects of isovalent substitution into the lanthanide sites on the
magnetoresistance of La0.67-xYxCa0.33MnO3-delta oxides are presented.
We will provide evidence that a key signature of the magnetic propert
ies of these oxides is the presence of an unusual long tail in the mag
netization vs temperature curves M(T), extending well above the Curie
temperature and which is very sensitive to the applied magnetic field
and becomes increasingly important with the concentration Of Y in the
lattice. These features signal a strong polarizability of the spin clo
uds in these materials as our Mossbauer experiments will clearly demon
strate.