Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical absorption spectra of Cu2+ ions in alkaline earth alumino borate glasses doped with different concentrations of CuO have been studied. The EPR spectra of all the glasses exhibit the resonance signals, characteristic of Cu2+ ions present in axially elongated octahedral sites. The number of spins participating in the resonance has been calculated as a function of temperature for calcium alumino borate (CaAB) glass doped with 0.1 mol% of CuO. From the EPR data, the paramagnetic susceptibility (chi) was calculated at different temperatures (T) and from the 1/chi-T graph, the Curie temperature of the glass has been evaluated. The optical absorption spectra of all the glasses show a single broad band, which has been assigned to the B-2(1g) -> B-2(2g) transition of the Cu2+ ions. The variation in the intensity of optical absorption with the ionic radius of the alkaline earth ion has been explained based on the Coulombic forces. By correlating the EPR and optical absorption spectral data, the nature of the in-plane sigma bonding between Cu2+ ion and the ligands is estimated. From the fundamental ultraviolet absorption edges of the glasses, the optical energy gap (E-opt) and the Urbach energy (Delta E) are evaluated. The variation in E-opt and Delta E is explained based on the number of defect centers in the glass. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.