Twin-roll casting (TRC) technology has been applied to produce Mg-3Al-1Zn-0.2Mn alloy plates. The microstructure of the plates mainly consists of primary alpha-Mg and secondary Mg-17(Al,Zn)(12) phase. With directional solidification during the TRC process, deformation occurs preferentially near the surface and adjacent to the grain boundaries. Dislocation tangle, twins and recrystallized grains are visible in the TRC Mg-3Al-1Zn-0.2Mn plates. The plates show {0 0 0 2} texture in the sub-surface region and {10 (1) over bar4} texture at the center. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.