Ludwigites: From natural mineral to modern solid solutions.

Ludwigites is a type of oxyborates compounds with BO₃ groups, which have low-dimensional elements: stairs, zigzag walls, tapes. Such structural features influence on the physical properties of the compounds and cause charge ordering, the existence of two magnetic subsystems, ordered at different temperatures in the perpendicular direction, the quasi-one-dimensional magnetism, spin-glass state. In this survey, we have summarized all known experimental and theoretical studies and analyzed the proposed by the authors mechanisms of phase transitions in the ludwigite structure oxyborates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]