EXHIBIT 23







                                              Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP



The Board of Directors
AMCOL International


We consent to  incorporation  by reference in the  registration  statements Nos.
33-34109,  33-55540 and 33-73350 on Form S-8 of AMCOL International  Corporation
and  subsidiaries  of  our  report  dated  March  25,  1998,   relating  to  the
consolidated balance sheets of AMCOL International  Corporation and subsidiaries
as of December 31, 1997 and 1996,  and the related  consolidated  statements  of
operations,  retained earnings,  and cash flows and related schedule for each of
the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1997, which report appears
in the  December  31, 1997,  annual  report on Form 10-K of AMCOL  International
Corporation.


/s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP


Chicago, Illinois
March 25, 1998