Manganese-containing bismuth titanate solid solutions with a pyrochlore-type crystal structure were obtained by the ceramic technique over a wide range of compositions. The NEXAFS (near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure) spectra of Mn2p-absorption in bismuth manganese titanate pyrochlores point to manganese being mainly in the oxidation state +2 in these solid solutions. The Mn-rich bismuth titanate pyrochlores showed a superposition of antiferro- (long-order) and ferromagnetic (short-order) behavior. The results of impedance investigations show the electron-ionic conductivity in these samples. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.