Abstract: This invention is principally directed to the preparation of transparent glass-ceramic articles which, when very rapidly crystallized in situ from precursor glass articles in plate form, exhibit very minimal distortion. The glass-ceramic articles contain .beta.-quartz solid solution as the predominant crystal phase and consist essentially, in weight percent, of______________________________________ SiO.sub.2 65-70 MgO + BaO + SrO 1.1-2.3 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 18-19.8 ZrO.sub.2 1.0-2.5 Li.sub.2 O 2.5-3.8 As.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-1.5 MgO 0.55-1.5 Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-1.5 ZnO 1.2-2.8 As.sub.2 O.sub.3 + Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3 0.5-1.5 TiO.sub.2 1.8-3.2 Na.sub.2 O 0-<1.0 BaO 0-1.4 K.sub.2 O 0-<1.0 SrO 0-1.4 Na.sub.2 O + K.sub.2 O 0-<1.0 BaO + SrO 0.4-1.4 2.8Li.sub.2 O + 1.2ZnO/ >1.8 5.2MgO ______________________________________The preferred glass-ceramics contain 0.1-1.0% V.sub.2 O.sub.5.