Sr2Tb8(SiO4)6O2　crystals　have　been　grown　and　investigated　for　the　first　time　for　magneto-optical　applications.　The　X-ray　powder　diffraction　confirms　that　the　compound　crystallizes　in　the　hexagonal　system,　with　a　common　oxyapatite　structure.　The　as-grown　crystal　exhibits　low　thermal　expansion　anisotropy　(αa/αc　≈　1.1),　and　the　hardness　is　about　5.0　Moh.　The　temperature　dependence　of　the　magnetic　susceptibility　indicated　that　the　Sr2Tb8(SiO4)6O2　crystal　exhibits　paramagnetic　behavior　over　the　experimental　temperature-range　2-300　K.　The　present　investigations　demonstrate　that　Sr2Tb8(SiO4)6O2　crystals　show　a　higher　visible　transparency　and　a　larger　Faraday　rotation　than　terbium　gallium　garnet　(TGG)　crystals.　Sr2Tb8(SiO4)6O2　is　therefore　a　very　promising　material　in　particular　for　new　magneto-optical　applications　in　the　visible-near　IR　wavelength　region.　©　2014　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.