EXHIBIT 23







                               Consent of KPMG LLP



The Board of Directors
AMCOL International


We consent to  incorporation  by reference in the  registration  statements Nos.
33-34109,  33-55540,  33-73350 and 333-56017 on Form S-8 of AMCOL  International
Corporation and subsidiaries of our report dated February 26, 1999,  relating to
the  consolidated   balance  sheets  of  AMCOL  International   Corporation  and
subsidiaries  as of  December  31, 1998 and 1997,  and the related  consolidated
statements  of  operations,  retained  earnings,  and cash flows for each of the
years in the three-year  period ended  December 31, 1998,  and related  schedule
which report  appears in the December  31, 1998,  annual  report on Form 10-K of
AMCOL International Corporation.


/s/ KPMG LLP


Chicago, Illinois
March 19, 1999