EXHIBIT 23.1





                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the:

     (i)  Registration Statement No. 33-29287 on Form S-8 and related Prospectus
          with respect to the 1989 Long Term  Performance  Incentive  Plan of NL
          Industries, Inc.; and

     (ii) Registration Statement No. 33-25913 on Form S-8 and related Prospectus
          with respect to the NL Industries, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan; and

     (iii)Registration   Statement  No.   333-65817  on  Form  S-8  and  related
          Prospectus  with respect to the NL  Industries,  Inc.  1998  Long-Term
          Incentive Plan; and

     (iv) Registration Statement No. 33-48145 on Form S-8 and related Prospectus
          with respect to the NL Industries,  Inc. 1992  Non-Employee  Directors
          Stock Option Plan.

of our report  dated March 5, 2004 on our audits of the  consolidated  financial
statements  and  financial  statement  schedules  of NL  Industries,  Inc. as of
December 31, 2002 and 2003,  and for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2003, which report is included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.





                           PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP



Dallas, Texas
March 8, 2004