The absorption

fluorescence and excitation spectra of zinc tungsta-te crystals activated by Ce

3+

Cu

+

Co

2+

Ni

2+

and Er

3+

ions have been measured and studied with SHIMADZU UV-265 visible recording spect-rophotometer and RF-540 spectrofluorephotometer. Results show that most of the activated ions have strong absorption in UV range. When the absorption spectra were measured a thin zinc tungstate was used as the referential crystal instead of air to eliminate the influence of the host lattice because the existence of strong absorption in U.V range.The results obtained from the excitation spectrum measurements are similar to those from the absorption meausrements.The Cu

+

ion has strong radiation in visible band (30C-600nm) when excited at 380nm with peak position at 460nm. We are intended to get 300-600nm tunable laser of Cu

+

ion in ZnWO

4

:Cu crystal.