Phase equilibrium studies of the Bi-Zn-Nb-O system show that pyrochlore does not form at chemical compositions predicted by the traditional formula for this crystal structure, A 2 B 2 O 6 OЈ, where A denotes large (8-coordinated, e.g. Bi 3+ ) and B small (6-coordinated, e.g. Zn
2+, Nb 5+ ) cation sites. Instead, pyrochlore forms only at compositions with excess B cations which, surprisingly, occupy the large A-cation sites. Reports of similar behavior in other pyrochlores suggest a