Eu3+-activated scintillating glasses with molar compositions of 35SiO(2)-15B(2)O(3)-30Ln(2)O(3)-20AlF(3) (Ln = Y, La, Gd, Lu) have been prepared. The effects of Ln 3, ions on the density, transmission, photoluminescence and radioluminescence have been studied. The glasses have high density, ranging from 4.0 to 6.1 g/cm(3) in the order of Y < La < Gd < Lu. Gd-containing glass exhibits a much higher light yield than the other glasses. The effect of complete substitution of fluorine by oxygen on the scintillation properties is also investigated. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.