New arsenides LnAgAs(2) (Ln=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy) have been obtained by sintering of purr components, LaAgAs2 and CeAgAs2 exhibit the tetragonal HfCuSi2 type structure with space group P4/nmm. The crystal structure of CeAgAs2 has been refined using X-ray powder diffraction data (a=4.0777(2) Angstrom. c=10.5262 Angstrom, R=0.078). The LnAgAs(2) (Ln=Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy) compounds possess a crystal structure of a new type, which is an orthorhombic derivative of the HfCuSi2 type structure. The crystal structure has been refined for NdAgAs2 arsenide by X-ray powder diffraction: space group Pmmn, a=4.0121(2) Angstrom, b=4.0516(2) Angstrom, c=10.5012(5) Angstrom, R=0.0675. Structural details of the obtained compounds and their relations with known structures are discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.