Optical spectra of 12 Miras

We also use the spectra to measure lithium (Li) abundances. Furthermore, we establish the evolutionary states of our sample stars by means of their present-day periods and luminosities. Among the twelve sample stars observed in this programme, five were found to show absorption lines of Tc.

BH Cru is found to be a carbon-star, its period increase in the past decades possibly having stopped by now. We report a possible switch in the pulsation mode of T UMi from Mira-like to semi-regular variability in the past two years. R Nor, on the other hand, is probably a fairly massive AGB star, which could be true for all meandering Miras.

Finally, we assign RU Vul to the metal-poor thick disk with properties very similar to the short-period, metal-poor Miras. We conclude that there is no clear correlation between period change type and Tc presence. The stars that are most likely to have experienced a recent TP are BH Cru and R Hya, although their rates of period change are quite different.