Magnetic susceptibility and heat-capacity measurements of Co3(AsO4)2.8
H2O and Ni3(AsO4)2.8H2O have shown the existence of long range antife
rromagnetic ordering at 7.1 and 8.3 K, respectively. The analysis of t
he measurements together with the structural features have shown a str
onger ferromagnetic dimers interaction. The ordering of the Co compoun
d has been characterized as a planar one with S=1/2 and having a three
-dimensional crossover below 2 K. For the Ni compound the magnetic ord
ering at TN is three-dimensional Heisenberg with S=1.