Large novel birefringent Ca-3(BO3)(2) crystals have been grown successfully by the Czochralski method. The optical transmission and the refractive indices of the crystal have been measured as a function of wavelength. The appropriate Sellmeier dispersion equations have been obtained. The results show that the crystal has a wide transmission range from 180 to 3800 nm, and the birefringence is as large as -0.0968 at 630 nm. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.