The influence of the intensity of melt stirring on the optical quality of proustite single crystals is studied in the range of Taylor numbers 1.9 x 10(5) < Ta < 7.26 x 10(7). Proustite single crystals of high optical quality have been obtained at Ta > 4 x 10(6). Within the studied range of the Taylor numbers, the increase of the intensity of melt stirring is shown to lead to the improvement of the optical quality of proustite single crystals. The technique for the growing of enlarged proustite single crystals by the Bridgman-Stockbarger method using modulated rotation of growth crucible has been devised. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.