<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000813621 <NAME> AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> USD <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1.00 <CASH> 3,077 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 92,158 <ALLOWANCES> 2,547 <INVENTORY> 49,389 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 150,270 <PP&E> 318,475 <DEPRECIATION> 143,151 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 351,009 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 67,241 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 320 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 351,009 <SALES> 477,060 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 477,060 <CGS> 376,317 <TOTAL-COSTS> 435,591 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 398 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,628 <INCOME-PRETAX> 32,443 <INCOME-TAX> 11,399 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 21,044 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 21,044 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.74 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.72