Аннотация:Phase formation in the Nd2O3-Ta2O5-B2O3-K2Mo3O10 system was estimated through spontaneous nucleation after a long-time mixing of the overheated fluxed melts. As a result, the crystalline NdTa7O19, NdTa3O9, Nd0.33TaO3, Nd1.67Ta5O15 and KTaO3 phases have been obtained. The typical sizes of the hexagonal plate-like crystals NHT with no significant inclusions were up to 2x2x1 mm3. These crystals belong to 6/m class of symmetry, and they have strongly developed faces of pinacoid, hexagonal prism and two hexagonal pyramids. The optical spectra of the Nd-tantalate have been measured. The spectra are strongly affected by the presence of optically active ions at different, non-equivalent optical centres. On the basis of the crystal growth and spectroscopy experiments, it can be concluded that the heptatantalates are interesting materials with promising characteristics which deserve to be carefully explored.