CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 8,782	$ 11,652
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	4,932	3,337
Accounts and other receivables, net	18,198	15,160
Inventories, net	19,253	19,578
Prepaid expenses and other	2,364	1,364
Deferred income taxes	7,213	7,213
Total current assets	60,742	58,304
Marketable securities	193,942	311,419
Investment in Kronos Worldwide, Inc.	339,393	281,257
Goodwill	47,824	47,553
Other assets, net	9,721	10,907
Total other assets	590,880	651,136
Land	11,745	11,639
Buildings	27,760	27,301
Equipment	125,687	129,685
Construction in progress	2,103	1,477
Property and equipment,gross	167,295	170,102
Less accumulated depreciation	115,264	118,300
Net property and equipment	52,031	51,802
Total assets	703,653	761,242
Current maturities of long-term debt	11,700	10,000
Accounts payable	7,713	8,184
Accrued and other current liabilities	14,400	13,994
Accrued environmental remediation and related costs	6,580	7,301
Income taxes	305	1,327
Total current liabilities	40,698	40,806
Long-term debt	21,515	27,285
Accrued pension costs	13,785	16,743
Accrued postretirement benefit (OPEB) costs	4,116	4,373
Accrued environmental remediation and related costs	42,877	34,336
Deferred income taxes	170,909	192,492
Other	18,425	19,215
Total noncurrent liabilities	271,627	294,444
Common stock	6,083	6,082
Additional paid-in capital	300,227	300,067
Retained earnings	152,334	113,555
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(78,670)	(4,724)
Total NL stockholders' equity	379,974	414,980
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	11,354	11,012
Total equity	391,328	425,992
Total liabilities and equity	703,653	761,242
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 11 and 12)