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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GRTgJpuiK25ET1Y+rPwbctdkYOG8JyjWnwaAOPKlkl/Rb39ZI117OAG6ODyn0nOo
 4jaoJyDGKO3IzmgEfCGrRw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000842295-04-000039.txt : 20040517
<SEC-HEADER>0000842295-04-000039.hdr.sgml : 20040517
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040517182640
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000842295-04-000039
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040517
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040517

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EPPERSON W CRAIG
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001268222

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17321
		FILM NUMBER:		04814216

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 2544
		CITY:			CORPUS CHRISTI
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78403

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TOR MINERALS INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000842295
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INDUSTRIAL INORGANIC CHEMICALS [2810]
		IRS NUMBER:				742081929
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		722 BURLESON
		CITY:			CORPUS CHRISTI
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78402
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3618825175

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		722 BURLESON
		CITY:			CORPUS CHRISTI
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78402

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HITOX CORPORATION OF AMERICA
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000842295</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TOR MINERALS INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TORM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001268222</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EPPERSON W CRAIG</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 2544</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CORPUS CHRISTI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>78403</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.26</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.26</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-05-17</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Automatic options granted according to the 2000 Incentive Plan for TOR Minerals International</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Elizabeth K. Morgan, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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