Fe:Ti:Al2O3:Al2O3　single　crystals　were　successfully　grown　by　the　floating　zone　(FZ)　method　in　different　atmospheres.　The　grown　crystals,　typically　about　7-8　mm　in　diameter　and　50-70　mm　in　length,　have　been　obtained　from　the　materials　of　Al2O3　doped　with　FeTiO3　and　Fe2O3.　The　effect　of　the　atmosphere　on　the　growth　was　studied,　and　the　obtained　single　crystals　presented　the　best　crystal　quality　when　grown　in　argon.　The　optimum　growth　parameters　by　the　FZ　method　for　this　single　crystal　were　also　studied　in　order　to　grow　the　highest　quality　single　crystal.　The　crystal　has　been　characterized　by　means　of　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD)　and　X-ray　single　crystal　diffraction.　Meanwhile,　the　Raman　spectroscopy　indicates　that　the　single　crystal　grown　in　argon　is　similar　to　the　natural　blue　sapphire.　The　transmittance　was　also　measured　by　ultraviolet　and　visible　spectrophotometry.　Coloration　mechanism　in　the　single　crystals　of　Fe:T:Al2O3　was　analyzed　by　an　electron　probe　X-ray　microanalyser　(EPMA).　It　is　proved　that　iron　is　the　main　coloring　element.　(C)　2013　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.