Single crystals of BaCuTe03T e 0 4 have been prepared by crystallisation from melts. X-ray investigations lead to orthorhombic symmetry, space group C2v-Ama2, a = 5.4869(8), b = 15.412(1), c = 7.2066(4) A , Z = 4. This compound represents a new structure type, containing B aO 10, C u 0 5, T e 0 6 and T e 0 4 polyhedra. The lone pair (E ) of TeIV completes the TeIV0 4 polyhedron to a trigonal T e 0 4E bipyramid. The Te to E distance is estimated by calculations o f the Coulomb terms of lattice energy to 1.43 A .