Many syntheses have been carried out in order to establish the possibility of replacing manganese in spessartine, Mn₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃, by various elements (Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Pb, Cu, Ni, Co, Fe²⁺, Sc, Yt, Zn, Cd) as well as aluminium by Sc, Yt, Zr, Ti, Cr, Fe³⁺ by a solid state reaction. The syntheses were done by sintering pellets of the desired composition at about 1100 °C for 5–10 hours under normal pressure. It has been found that an inert atmosphere creates more favourable conditions for the syntheses of spessartine analogues, compared to the results obtained in the open-air reaction, where often spinel was obtained. All the reaction products were submitted to X-ray and chemical analysis and to IR spectroscopical examination.