SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                       -----------------------------------


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT



                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 9, 2000


                              NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
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         (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)



New Jersey                   1-640                    13-5267260
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(State or other       (Commission File No.)     (Employer ID No.)
jurisdiction of
incorporation)



16825 Northchase Dr., Suite 1200, Houston, Texas             77060
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(Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code   (281) 423-3300


                          Not Applicable
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  (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)






Item 5.  Other Events.


     On February  9, 2000,  the  Registrant  issued the press  release  attached
hereto  as  Exhibit  99.1  and  incorporated  herein  in its  entirety  by  this
reference.




     Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.


         (c)      Exhibits

                    (i) Exhibit 99.1. Press Release dated February 9, 2000.



                         *      *      *      *      *




                                   SIGNATURE



         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                               NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
                                               (Registrant)



                                               /s/Robert D. Hardy
                                               Vice President & Controller



Dated: February 10, 2000

                                                              Susan E. Alderton
                                                        Chief Financial Officer
                                                                 (281) 423-3332


                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.1








FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                 NL INDUSTRIES, INC. ANNOUNCES INCREASE IN DIVIDEND


HOUSTON, TEXAS - February 9, 2000 - NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NL) announced that
its Board of  Directors  has  declared a regular  quarterly  dividend of fifteen
cents per share on its common stock,  payable March 31, 2000 to  shareholders of
record March 16, 2000. J. Landis  Martin,  President and CEO, said, "In light of
the positive  outlook for the  titanium  dioxide  industry and NL's  significant
liquidity  and strong  balance  sheet,  we are pleased to announce a substantial
increase in our dividend."

NL  Industries,  Inc. is a major  international  producer  of  titanium  dioxide
pigments.


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