The flux growth experiments of stoichiometric LiNbO3 crystals were carried out at a low vertical temperature gradient from the fluxed melts with molar ratios of K2O/LiNbO3 = 0.16 and 0.19. The crystals were pulled along different directions perpendicular to X-cut, Y-cut, Z-cut and facet-cut planes. Crystal structure and inclusions-related defects were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) method. The stoichiometry of the as-grown crystal, which depended on its ultraviolet absorption edge, was studied by measuring its transmittance spectrum. The shape and facet morphology of crystal-melt interfaces for different growth directions were studied by X-ray orientation and projection analysis. It was found that the crystals grown under our thermal conditions exhibited a very strong tendency towards faceting. Highly convex and facet-bounded interfaces were observed for the growth directions perpendicular to the Z-cut, X-cut and Y-cut planes. The central part of the interface was always broken and contained a lot of inclusions due to the formation of many small pyramids consisting of (0 12), (1 (1) over bar2) and ((1) over bar 02) facets. It was shown that the growth direction perpendicular to the facet was favorable for growing high quality stoichiometric LiNbO3 crystals at the low vertical temperature gradient. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.