A phase analysis of an industrial filter cake residual based on X-ray powder diffraction data gave evidence for the existence of a previously unknown hydrous magnesium zinc phosphate. An optical investigation of the sample indicated the presence of milky white crystals (intergrown with polycrystalline rutile) with a maximum diameter of about 150 μm. Aided by an EDX-analysis, a single crystal diffraction study performed at Ϫ100°C proofed that the material represents a phase with composition Mg[ZnPO 4 (H 2 O)] 2 · 10H 2 O. Basic crystallographic data are as follows: monoclinic symmetry, space group P2 1 /c, a ϭ 10.702 (1), b ϭ 7.4740(9) Å , c ϭ 11.444(1) Å , β ϭ 104.09(1)°, V ϭ 887.8(2) Å 3 , Z ϭ 2, (R(ΗFΗ) ϭ 0.048). From a structural point of view the new compound is based on [ZnPO 4 (H 2 O)] Ϫ layers containing ZnO 3 (H 2 O)-and PO 4 -tetrahedra arranged at the vertices of a 4.8 2 net. The layers are parallel to (100) and alternate with sheets of isolated Mg(H 2 O) 6 2ϩ -octahedra and additional interstitial water molecules. Linkage between the tetrahedral and octahedral sheets is provided by hydrogen bonding. The topology and geometry of the tetrahedral layers are very similar to those observed in the minerals veszelyite, herderite and kipushite. According to the DTAmeasurements the present compound is stable up to 89°C, where dehydration to an amorphous product occurs.