The system Nb-Cr-Al was investigated in the region near the Al-3(Nb,Cr) + Cr(Al,Nb) eutectic and the liquidus projection of that region was determined based on the microstructural characterization of arc melted alloys. The characterization utilized scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results allowed one to determine three primary solidification liquidus surfaces ((Cr,Al)(2)Nb, Cr(Al,Nb) and Al-3(Nb,Cr)), that are originated from the binary systems Cr-Nb, Cr-Al and Al-Nb. It is proposed the occurrence of the invariant reaction L + (Cr,Al)(2)Nb reversible arrow Al-3(Nb,Cr) + Cr(Al,Nb) and of a point of minimum, which involves a three phase reaction, L reversible arrow Al-3(Nb,Cr) + Cr(Al,Nb). All alloys studied showed formation of the Al-3(Nb,Cr) + Cr(Al,Nb) eutectic as the last solidification step with Al(Nb)Cr, precipitating from Cr(Al,Nb). (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.424416717782