-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Dk1XgHGPIrlP0LmoDQaVXRpR0CXM0kkG+Z5hNCoYNHSkwJBjEKQO23CBMU65dzQy
 O5aUpGDHydUzxoAf7UmSRg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000842295-10-000065.txt : 20100819
<SEC-HEADER>0000842295-10-000065.hdr.sgml : 20100819
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100819133104
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000842295-10-000065
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100818
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100819
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100819

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PAUKEN THOMAS W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184548

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17321
		FILM NUMBER:		101027501

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:		361-883-5591

	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>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-08-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184548</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PAUKEN THOMAS W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-08-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>162</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>28305</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-08-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>38</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>28343</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Ownership consist of:
17,163 held directly; 1,440 held by spouse; 6,960 held by TWP,Inc; 2,780 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 5,000 shares of series A convertible preferred stock</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas W Pauken</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-08-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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