EXHIBIT 23.1





                                            CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the:

      (i)   Registration  Statement  No.  33-29287  on Form  S-8  and  related
            Prospectus  with  respect  to  the  1989  Long  Term   Performance
            Incentive Plan of NL Industries, Inc.; and

      (ii)  Registration  Statement  No.  33-25913  on Form  S-8  and  related
            Prospectus  with  respect to the NL  Industries,  Inc.  Retirement
            Savings Plan; and

      (iii) Registration  Statement  No.  333-65817  on Form  S-8 and  related
            Prospectus with respect to the NL Industries,  Inc. 1998 Long-Term
            Incentive Plan; and

      (iv)  Registration  Statement  No.  33-48145  on Form  S-8  and  related
            Prospectus   with  respect  to  the  NL   Industries,   Inc.  1992
            Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan.

of our report dated February 29, 2000,  which includes an explanatory  paragraph
for the  1997  change  in  accounting  for  environmental  remediation  costs in
accordance  with Statement of Position  96-1, on our audits of the  consolidated
financial statements and financial statement schedules of NL Industries, Inc. as
of  December  31,  1998 and 1999,  and for each of the three years in the period
ended December 31, 1999,  which report is included in this Annual Report on Form
10-K.





                                    PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP



Houston, Texas
March 16, 2000