EXHIBIT 99.1

NEWS RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rodney L. Underdown (913-344-9395)                Peggy Landon (913-344-9315)
   Vice President and Chief Financial Officer     Director of Investor Relations


                          DAVID J. D'ANTONI ELECTED TO
                COMPASS MINERALS INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

         OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (November 24, 2004) - David J. D'Antoni was elected
to the board of directors of Compass Minerals International, Inc. (NYSE: CMP)
today. He will serve on the board's compensation and environment, health and
safety committees.

         Mr. D'Antoni is a retired senior vice president and group operating
officer of Ashland, Inc. (NYSE: ASH) - a Fortune 500 chemical, road construction
and energy company - and was president of Ashland's APAC Inc. subsidiary, one of
the largest road construction contractors in the United States. A graduate of
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Harvard Business School's Advanced Management
Program, Mr. D'Antoni serves on the board of directors of State Auto Financial
Corporation (NASDAQ: STFC) and OmNova Solutions (NYSE: OMN).

         The board also voted today to reduce its size from ten members to
eight. Mr. D'Antoni will fill one of two vacancies created by the resignations
of four affiliates of Apollo Management L.P. Joel Asen, Peter Copses, Robert
Falk and Scott Kleinman have stepped down to reduce Apollo's representation on
the board. Joshua Harris, a founding partner of Apollo Management, will continue
to serve. The board's nominating/corporate governance committee will endeavor to
fill the eighth seat promptly.

ABOUT COMPASS MINERALS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

         Based in the Kansas City metropolitan area, Compass is the
second-leading salt producer in North America and the largest in the United
Kingdom. The company operates nine production facilities, including the largest
rock salt mine in the world in Goderich, Ontario. The company's product lines
include salt for highway deicing, consumer deicing, water conditioning, consumer
and industrial food preparation, agriculture and industrial applications. In
addition, Compass is North America's leading producer of sulfate of potash,
which is used in the production of specialty fertilizers for high-value crops
and turf.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based
on the Company's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that
could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially. The differences
could be caused by a number of factors including those factors identified in
Compass Minerals International's registration statement on form S-3 filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 16, 2004. The Company will
not update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect
future events or developments.

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