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 March 1, 2002 on our audits of the  consolidated  financial
statements  and  financial  statement  schedules  of NL  Industries,  Inc. as of
December 31, 2001 and 2000,  and for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2001, which report is included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.





                                                      PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP



Houston, Texas
March 14, 2002