CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Net sales	$ 24,209	$ 21,281	$ 69,701	$ 63,856
Cost of sales	16,695	14,971	48,557	45,025
Gross margin	7,514	6,310	21,144	18,831
Selling, general and administrative expense	4,537	4,270	13,790	13,050
Other operating income (expense):
Insurance recoveries	2,198	1,197	3,774	2,604
Litigation settlement gain				14,964
Other income	9		23	390
Assets held for sale write-down		(405)		(405)
Corporate expense and other, net	(5,627)	(3,438)	(26,869)	(24,944)
Loss from operations	(443)	(606)	(15,718)	(1,610)
Equity in earnings (loss) of Kronos Worldwide, Inc.	(9,101)	10,715	(31,891)	71,951
Other income (expense):
Securities transaction gains, net			11
Interest and dividends	725	829	2,198	2,371
Interest expense	(10)	(218)	(127)	(720)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(8,829)	10,720	(45,527)	71,992
Income tax expense (benefit)	(3,145)	2,097	(23,827)	17,426
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(5,684)	8,623	(21,700)	54,566
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		1,724		3,273
Net income (loss)	(5,684)	10,347	(21,700)	57,839
Noncontrolling interest in net income of subsidiary	256	340	613	810
Net income (loss) attributable to NL stockholders	(5,940)	10,007	(22,313)	57,029
Amounts attributable to NL stockholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(5,940)	8,508	(22,313)	54,182
Income from discontinued operations		1,499		2,847
Net income (loss) attributable to NL stockholders	$ (5,940)	$ 10,007	$ (22,313)	$ 57,029
Net income (loss) per share:
Continuing operations	$ (0.12)	$ 0.18	$ (0.46)	$ 1.11
Discontinued operations		$ 0.03		$ 0.06
Net income (loss) per share	$ (0.12)	$ 0.21	$ (0.46)	$ 1.17
Cash dividend per share	$ 0.125	$ 0.125	$ 0.375	$ 0.375
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding	48,674	48,669	48,671	48,666