A novel Mg2Zr5O12-based coating on magnesium was formed by microarc oxidation (MAO) in a K2ZrF6-containing electrolyte. The structure of the coating was examined by X-ray diffraction using the grazing angle method, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The friction and wear properties of the MAO-coated and -uncoated Mg samples were evaluated in a ball-on-disk testing system. The corrosion resistance of the coating in a 3.5% NaCl solution was investigated by the potentiodynamic polarization test. The coating is relatively dense and composed of a Mg2Zr5O12-ZrO2-MgF2 inner layer and a nanocrystalline Mg2Zr5O12 outer layer with a maximum hardness of 1240 Hv. The friction coefficient of the coating against Si3N4 is 0.35 under a dry-sliding condition. The corrosion resistance of the magnesium substrate is improved considerably by MAO treatment. The corrosion potential of the Mg2Zr5O12-coated sample is -1.43 V with a current density as low as 7.06 x 10(-8) A/cm(2). It is expected that the coating can considerably protect magnesium from wear and corrosion.