An inorganic scintillator material, a method for growing the monocrystalline scintillator material, and the use of the scintillator material as component of a scintillating detector in particular for industrial and medical purposes and in the oil industry. The inorganic scintillator material has the general composition M.sub.1-xCe.sub.xCl.sub.3, wherein: M is selected among lanthanides or lanthanide mixtures, preferably among the elements or mixtures of elements of the group consisting of Y, La, Gd, Lu, in particular among the elements or mixtures of elements of the group consisting of La, Gd and Lu; and x is the molar rate of substitution of M with cerium, x being not less than 1 mol % and strictly less than 100 mol %.