  A new ternary intermetallic compound, namely, YbMn2Sb2, has been synthesized
and its magnetic and electrical transport properties have been studied in the
temperature range of 2 to 300 K. This compound crystallizes in a trigonal,
La2O2S type structure (space group P3bm1, No. 164) and is found to be
ferromagnetically ordered at room temperature. The magnetism is attributed to
the ordering of Mn sublattice. M5 xray absorption spectrum of YbMn2Sb2 obtained
at room temperature suggests that the valency of Yb in this compound is close
to 2. Electrical resistivity of this compound is metal like and a positive
magnetoresistance of 13 percent is observed at 5 K in an applied field of 9T.
Key words Rare earth intermetallics and alloys, Magnetic properties, Xray
absorption spectroscopy, Electrical transport.
