1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 24(b)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

The undersigned director of both Eagle-Picher Holdings, Inc. and Eagle-Picher
Industries, Inc. hereby consents to and appoints Andries Ruijssenaars and David
G. Krall, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents
with all power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 1999 fiscal
year of both Eagle-Picher Holdings, Inc. and Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc.,
corporations organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and
the State of Ohio respectively, and any and all amendments thereto, and to file
the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the same as
fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either
of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue thereof.

In Witness Whereof, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand on this 23rd day
of February, 2000.


/s/Daniel C. Wyler
- --------------------
Daniel C. Wyler
Director