<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0000813621
<NAME>                        AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     USD
       
                                                                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                3-MOS           6-MOS          9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1997     DEC-31-1997    DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                               JAN-01-1997     APR-1-1997     JUL-1-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                 MAR-31-1997     JUN-30-1997    SEP-30-1997
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