Exhibit 99.1


(ZEMEX LOGO)

                                NEWS RELEASE FOR
                                IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                ZEMEX CORPORATION
                          ACQUIRES ATTAPULGITE FACILITY

TORONTO, CANADA - FEBRUARY 4, 2002 - ZEMEX CORPORATION (NYSE, TSE: ZMX)
announced today that it has purchased the attapulgite clay assets of Milwhite
Inc. for US$12 million. Milwhite's clay products find application in markets
that Zemex currently serves, such as the formation of joint cement compounds for
the construction industry, products for the oil well drilling industry, the
absorbent industries, and the coatings markets. The purchase price will be
funded by the corporation's existing credit facility. The acquisition is
anticipated to generate approximately $2.5 million of EBITDA in the first full
year, or around 30(cent) per share, and 12(cent) per share of net incremental
income.

Richard Lister, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Zemex, was quoted
as saying, "We are very excited about this opportunity as it serves the same
markets that we currently serve but with an entirely new product line. The
existing sales and administrative staff of our industrial minerals group will
absorb this acquisition with only minimal increases. As a result, the immediate
synergies that will be realized make it very advantageous to Zemex and the
acquisition is accretive immediately."

This acquisition is in line with the corporate strategy of acquiring businesses
that serve the same markets that the company currently serves with the objective
of increasing the size and presence of each division, our industrial minerals
group and our aluminum recycling group.

                            CONFERENCE CALL SCHEDULED

The company will host a conference call at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Wednesday,
February 6, 2002 to discuss the acquisition. Interested parties can access the
conference call by dialing (800) 482-2225 (domestic callers) or (303) 804-1806
(international callers). A taped replay of the conference call will be made
available for seven days and can be accessed by dialing (800) 696-1588 (domestic
callers) or (303) 804-1727 (international callers) and providing the pass code
1517505.

Zemex Corporation is a diversified producer of industrial minerals and specialty
products and, through its Alumitech division, reprocesses aluminum drosses with
patented zero discharge technology. Zemex currently operates facilities across
the United States and Canada. Its products are used in a variety of commercial
applications and are sold throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.



For further information, please contact:

     Richard L. Lister                 Allen J. Palmiere
     President                         Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
     and Chief Executive Officer       and Corporate Secretary
     (416) 365-5667                    (416) 365-8091

This press release may contain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward
statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current
expectation of the Corporation and members of its senior management team,
including, without limitation, expectations regarding prospective performance
and opportunities. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and
uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those
contemplated by the Corporation.