The partitionings of NiO and of NiO and TiO2 between hematite and Na2O 2B(2
)O(3) melts were studied by the flux growth method as a function of solute
concentration. The substitution mechanisms of NiO and/or TiO2 in -Fe2O3 lat
tice were discussed based on the concentration dependence of the distributi
on coefficients. The substitution of Ni2+ ion for Fe3+ was accompanied by t
he charge compensating oxygen ion vacancies, while the coupled substitution
of Ni2+ and Ti4+ ions for Fe3+ was accompanied by the formation of Fe2+ io
n, which was confirmed by chemical analysis.