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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.2
 
                         NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY
                                      FOR
                     10% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2009
                                       OF
                             OGLEBAY NORTON COMPANY
 
     As set forth in the Prospectus dated May 13, 1999 (the "Prospectus"), of
Oglebay Norton Company and in the letter of transmittal, this form or one
substantially similar must be used to accept Oglebay Norton's offer to exchange
all of its outstanding 10% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 (the "Outstanding
Notes") for its 10% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009, which have been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, if certificates for the Outstanding
Notes are not immediately available or if the Outstanding Notes, the letter of
transmittal or any other required documents cannot be delivered to the exchange
agent, or the procedure for book-entry transfer cannot be completed, prior to
5:00 p.m., central time, on the Expiration Date (as defined in the Prospectus).
This form may be delivered by an Eligible Institution by hand or transmitted by
facsimile transmission, overnight courier or mail to the exchange agent as
indicated below.
 
THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., CENTRAL TIME, ON JUNE 15, 1999,
UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED (THE "EXPIRATION DATE"). TENDERS OF OUTSTANDING
NOTES MAY BE WITHDRAWN AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M. ON THE EXPIRATION DATE.
 
                                  Deliver to:
 
                 NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                                 EXCHANGE AGENT
 

                                                                    
By Registered or Certified Mail:  By Hand Delivery or Overnight Courier:          In Person:
 
    Norwest Bank Minnesota,              Norwest Bank Minnesota,           Norwest Bank Minnesota,
      National Association                 National Association              National Association
   Corporate Trust Operations           Corporate Trust Operations           Northstar East Bldg.
         P.O. Box 1517                        Norwest Center                   608 2nd Ave. S.
   Minneapolis, MN 55480-1517              Sixth and Marquette                    12th Floor
                                        Minneapolis, MN 55479-0113         Corporate Trust Services
                                                                          Minneapolis, MN 55479-0113

 
                                 By Facsimile:
 
                                 (612) 667-4927
 
                              Confirm By Telephone
 
                                 (612) 667-9764
 
     Delivery of this notice to an address, or transmission of instructions via
a facsimile, other than as set forth above, does not constitute a valid
delivery.
 
     This form is not to be used to guarantee signatures. If a signature on the
letter of transmittal to be used to tender Outstanding Notes is required to be
guaranteed by an "Eligible Institution" under the instructions thereto, such
signature guarantee must appear in the applicable space provided in the letter
of transmittal.
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
     The undersigned hereby tenders to Oglebay Norton Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in the Prospectus and the letter of transmittal (which together constitute
the "Exchange Offer"), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, Outstanding
Notes pursuant to guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in Instruction 1 of
the letter of transmittal.
 
     The undersigned understands that tenders of Outstanding Notes will be
accepted only in principal amounts equal to $1,000 or integral multiples
thereof. The undersigned understands that tenders of Outstanding Notes pursuant
to the Exchange Offer may be withdrawn only in accordance with the procedures
set forth in "VI.I. The Exchange Offer -- Withdrawal of Tenders" section of the
Prospectus.
 
     All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred by this Notice of
Guaranteed Delivery shall survive the death, incapacity or dissolution of the
undersigned and every obligation of the undersigned under this Notice of
Guaranteed Delivery shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives,
executors, administrators, successors, assigns, trustees in bankruptcy and other
legal representatives of the undersigned.
 
            NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED WHERE INDICATED BELOW.
 

                                                    
 
Certificate No(s). for Outstanding Notes               Principal Amount of Outstanding Notes
(if available)
 
- -----------------------------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------
 
Principal Amount of Outstanding Notes Tendered         Signature(s)
 
- -----------------------------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------
 
Dated:                                                 If Outstanding Notes will be delivered by book-entry
                                                       transfer at the Depository Trust Company, Depository
                                                       Account No.:
 
- -----------------------------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------

 
     This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery must be signed by the registered
holder(s) of Outstanding Notes exactly as its (their) name(s) appear on
certificates of Outstanding Notes or on a security position listing as the owner
of Outstanding Notes, or by person(s) authorized to become registered holder(s)
by endorsements and documents transmitted with this Notice of Guaranteed
Delivery. If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian,
 
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attorney-in-fact, officer or other person acting in a fiduciary or
representative capacity, such person must provide the following information:
 
                      Please print name(s) and address(es)
 

                                    
Name(s):                               ------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       ------------------------------------------------------------
 
Capacity:                              ------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       ------------------------------------------------------------
 
Address(es):                           ------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       ------------------------------------------------------------
 
Area Code and Telephone No.:           ------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       ------------------------------------------------------------
 

 
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                                   GUARANTEE
 
                    (NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEE)
 
     The undersigned, a member firm of a registered national securities exchange
or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank
or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States or an
"eligible guarantor institution" within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), hereby
 
     (a) represents that the above named person(s) "own(s)" the Outstanding
         Notes to be tendered within the meaning of Rule 14e-4 under the
         Exchange Act,
 
     (b) represents that such tender of Outstanding Notes complies with Rule
         14e-4 under the Exchange Act and
 
     (c) guarantees that delivery to the exchange agent of certificates for the
         Outstanding Notes to be tendered, proper form for transfer (or
         confirmation of the book-entry transfer of such Outstanding Notes into
         the exchange agent's account at the Depository Trust company, pursuant
         to the procedures for book-entry transfer set forth in the prospectus),
         with delivery of a properly completed and duly executed (or manually
         signed facsimile) letter of transmittal with any required signatures
         and any other required documents, will be received by the exchange
         agent at one of its addresses set forth above within five business days
         after the Expiration Date.
 
     I HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I MUST DELIVER THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND
OUTSTANDING NOTES TO BE TENDERED TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD
SET FORTH AND THAT FAILURE TO DO SO COULD RESULT IN FINANCIAL LOSS TO ME.
 

                                                
- --------------------------------------------       --------------------------------------------
                Name of Firm                                   Authorized Signature
 
- --------------------------------------------       --------------------------------------------
                  Address                                             Title
 
- --------------------------------------------       Name:
                  Zip Code                         --------------------------------------------
                                                              (Please Type or Print)
 
Area Code and Telephone No.                        Dated:
- --------------------------------------------       --------------------------------------------

 
NOTE: DO NOT SEND OUTSTANDING NOTES WITH THIS FORM; OUTSTANDING NOTES SHOULD BE
      SENT WITH YOUR LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL SO THAT THEY ARE RECEIVED BY THE
      EXCHANGE AGENT WITHIN THREE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE TRADING DAYS AFTER THE
      EXPIRATION DATE.
 
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