EX-5.1

We have acted as special counsel to CARBO Ceramics Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), but excluding the documents incorporated by reference therein, relating to the offering from time to time, together or separately and in one or more series (if applicable), of up to an aggregate offering price of $300,000,000 of (i) shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), (ii) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), (iii) debt securities (the “Debt Securities”), (iv) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities or other securities, property or assets or other warrants (the “Warrants”), (v) rights to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities or any other securities offered under the Registration Statement (“Rights”) and (vi) units that include any of these securities (the “Units”). The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants, Rights and Units are referred to herein collectively as the “Securities.” The Securities being registered under the Registration Statement will be offered on a continuous or delayed basis pursuant to the provisions of Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

The Debt Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series in accordance with the provisions of one or more indenture(s) (each, an “Indenture”) to be entered into between the Company and the trustee to be named therein. The terms of the Preferred Stock are to be established in one or more certificates of designation, rights and preferences filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (each a “Certificate of Designation”). The Warrants are to be issued from time to time under one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”) to be entered into between the Company and the warrant agent to be

named therein. The Units are to be issued from time to time under one or more unit agreements (each, a “Unit Agreement”) to be entered into between the Company and the unit agent to be named therein.

In arriving at the opinions expressed below, we have reviewed the following documents:

(a) the Registration Statement and the documents incorporated by reference therein and the documents filed as exhibits thereto;

(b) copies of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;

(c) copies of the Company’s Bylaws, as amended to date and currently in effect, filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement;

(d) the form of Senior Debt Indenture, filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement;

(e) the form of Subordinated Debt Indenture, filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; and

(f) a form of Certificate of Common Stock, filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

In addition, we have reviewed the originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of all such corporate records of the Company and such other documents, and we have made such investigations of law, as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for the opinions expressed below.

In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. In addition, we have assumed and have not verified the accuracy as to factual matters of each document we have reviewed.

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the further assumptions and qualifications set forth below, it is our opinion that:

Insofar as the foregoing opinions relate to the validity, binding effect or enforceability of any agreement or obligation of the Company, (x) we have assumed that the Company and each other party to such agreement or obligation has satisfied or, prior to the issuance of the Securities, will satisfy those legal requirements that are applicable to it to the extent necessary to make such agreement or obligation enforceable against it and (y) such opinions are subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity.

In rendering the opinions expressed above, we have further assumed that: (i) prior to the issuance of the Securities, the Company will authorize the offering and issuance of the Securities and will duly authorize, approve and establish the final terms and conditions thereof, which terms will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement and the terms of the Securities, and will not violate any applicable law, conflict with any matter of public policy, result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company or violate any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; (ii) prior to the issuance of the Securities, the Company will duly authorize, execute and deliver the Securities and any other agreement necessary with respect to the Securities or contemplated by the Securities or the Registration Statement and will take any other appropriate or necessary corporate action, including the filing of any Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; (iii) any agreement governing the Securities will be governed by New York law; (iv) the Indenture will conform to the form thereof filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; (v) the Securities will be offered, issued, sold and delivered in compliance with applicable law and any requirements therefor set forth in any corporate action authorizing such Securities and any agreement governing those Securities and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and the related prospectus supplements describing the Securities and the offering thereof; (vi) the Securities will be offered, sold and delivered to, and paid for by, the purchasers thereof at the price specified in, and in accordance with the terms of, an agreement or agreements duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, which price, in the case of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, shall not be less than the respective par value thereof; (vii) if issued in certificated form, certificates representing the Securities will conform to the specimen thereof filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, be duly executed and delivered and, to the extent required by any applicable agreement, duly authenticated or countersigned, and if issued in book-entry form, the Securities will be duly registered to the extent required by any applicable agreement; and (viii) if issued in uncertificated form, valid book-entry notations for the issuance of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock will have been duly made in the share register of the Company.

In rendering the opinions expressed in paragraph 3 above, we have assumed that each series of Debt Securities will be issued with an original aggregate principal amount (or in the case of Debt Securities issued at an original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) of $2,500,000 or more.

We note that any designation in the Securities or any applicable agreement governing those Securities of the U.S. federal courts sitting in New York City as the venue for actions or proceedings relating to such Securities is (notwithstanding any waiver thereof) subject to the power of such courts to transfer actions pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1404(a) or to dismiss such actions or proceedings on the grounds that such a federal court is an inconvenient forum for such an action or proceeding.

We note that by statute New York provides that a judgment or decree rendered in a currency other than the currency of the United States shall be converted into U.S. dollars at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment or decree. There is no corresponding federal statute and no controlling federal court decision on this issue. Accordingly, we express no opinion as to whether a federal court would award a judgment in a currency other than U.S. dollars or, if it did so, whether it would order conversion of the judgment into U.S. dollars. In addition, to the extent that any Securities or applicable agreement governing those Securities includes a provision relating to indemnification against any loss in obtaining currency due from a court judgment in another currency, we express no opinion as to the enforceability of such provision.

The foregoing opinions are limited to the law of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

We hereby consent to the use of our name in the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement under the heading “Legal Matters” and in any prospectus supplement related thereto as counsel for the Company that has passed on the validity of the Securities and to the use of this opinion as a part (Exhibit 5.1) of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. The opinions expressed herein are rendered on and as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you or any other person, or to make any investigations, as to any legal developments or factual matters arising subsequent to the date hereof that might affect the opinions expressed herein.


Very truly yours, CLEARY GOTTLIEB STEEN & HAMILTON LLP

By:		/s/ Christopher E. Austin
		Christopher E. Austin, a Partner