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<B><FONT SIZE=5><P ALIGN="CENTER">UNITED STATES</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</P>
</FONT><FONT SIZE=4><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
</FONT><P ALIGN="CENTER">WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</P>
</B><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<B><FONT FACE="Arial Black" SIZE=6 COLOR="#808080"><P ALIGN="CENTER">___________</P>
</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=5><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
</FONT><B><FONT SIZE=6><P ALIGN="CENTER">FORM 8-K</P>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Arial Black" SIZE=6 COLOR="#808080"><P ALIGN="CENTER">___________</P>
</B></FONT><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<B><P ALIGN="CENTER">CURRENT REPORT</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 8, 2004</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">Commission file Number: 0-17321</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<FONT FACE="Arial Black" SIZE=6 COLOR="#808080"><P ALIGN="CENTER">___________</P>
</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=5><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
</FONT><B><FONT SIZE=5><P ALIGN="CENTER">TOR MINERALS INTERNATIONAL, INC.</P>
</B></FONT><FONT SIZE=1><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
</FONT><FONT SIZE=3><P ALIGN="CENTER">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</P>
</FONT><B><FONT FACE="Arial Black" SIZE=6 COLOR="#808080"><P ALIGN="CENTER">_________</P>
</B></FONT><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=744>
<TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP">
<B><P ALIGN="CENTER">Delaware<BR>
</B><FONT SIZE=3>(State or other jurisdiction of corporation)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP">
<B><P ALIGN="CENTER">74-2081929<BR>
</B><FONT SIZE=3>(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<B><P ALIGN="CENTER">722 Burleson<BR>
Corpus Christi, Texas 78402<BR>
</B><FONT SIZE=3>(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)</P>
</FONT><P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<B><P ALIGN="CENTER">(361) 883-5591<BR>
</B><FONT SIZE=3>(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)<BR>
</FONT><B><FONT FACE="Arial Black" SIZE=6 COLOR="#808080">___________</P>
</B></FONT><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">ITEM 4.  Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant</P>
</B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">(a) On July 8, 2004, Ernst &amp; Young LLP (&quot;Ernst &amp; Young&quot;) informed TOR Minerals International, Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;) that Ernst &amp; Young will resign as the Company's independent auditor effective upon the completion of the quarterly review of the Company's fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2004.  The Company's Audit Committee has accepted Ernst &amp; Young's resignation.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The reports of Ernst &amp; Young on the financial statements of the Company for the past two fiscal years contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles except for a modification as to uncertainty about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern as described in the report of Ernst &amp; Young on the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">In connection with the audits of the Company's financial statements for each of the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003 and in the subsequent interim period, there were no disagreements with Ernst &amp; Young on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Ernst &amp; Young, would have caused Ernst &amp; Young to make reference to the matter in their report.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">In response to the Company's request, Ernst &amp; Young has furnished the Company with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or not it agrees with the above statements.  A copy of such letter dated July 15, 2004, is attached hereto as Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">(b)  In accordance with the terms of the Company's Audit Committee Charter, the Company's Audit Committee has commenced a search to select the Company's new independent auditor.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">ITEM 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits</P>
</B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">(c)&#9;The following exhibit is being furnished herewith:</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;16.1 Letter dated July 15, 2004 from Ernst &amp; Young LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding statements included in this Form 8-K.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P>
<B><P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">SIGNATURES</P>
</B>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">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 hereunto duly authorized.</P>

<P>&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=685>
<TR><TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP">
<P ALIGN="CENTER">TOR MINERALS INTERNATIONAL, INC.<BR>
<B><FONT COLOR="#808080">_____________________<BR>
</B></FONT>(Registrant)</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP">
<P>Date:  July 15, 2004</TD>
<TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP">
<U><P ALIGN="CENTER">RICHARD BOWERS</U></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13><P></P></TD>
<TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">Richard Bowers<BR>
President and CEO</TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13><P></P></TD>
<TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13><P></P></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP">
<P>Date:  July 15, 2004</TD>
<TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP">
<U><P ALIGN="CENTER">LAWRENCE W. HAAS</U></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP">
<P ALIGN="CENTER">Lawrence W. Haas<BR>
Treasurer and CFO</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>


<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<B><P ALIGN="CENTER">EXHIBIT INDEX</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P>
</B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">16.1&#9;Letter dated July 15, 2004 from Ernst &amp; Young LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding statements included in this Form 8-K.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"></P></BODY>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "TOR MINERALS INTERNATIONAL INC", "cik": "0000842295", "assigned-sic": "2810", "irs-number": "742081929", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-17321", "film-number": "04915909"}, "business-address": {"street1": "722 BURLESON", "city": "CORPUS CHRISTI", "state": "TX", "zip": "78402", "phone": "3618825175"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "722 BURLESON", "city": "CORPUS CHRISTI", "state": "TX", "zip": "78402"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "HITOX CORPORATION OF AMERICA", "date-changed": "19920703"}}
UNITED STATES
UNITED STATES
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): July 8, 2004
Commission file Number: 0-17321
___________
TOR MINERALS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
_________
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of corporation)
74-2081929
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
722 Burleson
Corpus Christi, Texas 78402
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(361) 883-5591
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
___________
ITEM 4.  Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant
(a) On July 8, 2004, Ernst & Young LLP ("Ernst & Young") informed TOR Minerals International, Inc. (the "Company") that Ernst & Young will resign as the Company's independent auditor effective upon the completion of the quarterly review of the Company's fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2004.  The Company's Audit Committee has accepted Ernst & Young's resignation.
The reports of Ernst & Young on the financial statements of the Company for the past two fiscal years contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles except for a modification as to uncertainty about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern as described in the report of Ernst & Young on the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002.
In connection with the audits of the Company's financial statements for each of the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003 and in the subsequent interim period, there were no disagreements with Ernst & Young on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Ernst & Young, would have caused Ernst & Young to make reference to the matter in their report.
In response to the Company's request, Ernst & Young has furnished the Company with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or not it agrees with the above statements.  A copy of such letter dated July 15, 2004, is attached hereto as Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K.
(b)  In accordance with the terms of the Company's Audit Committee Charter, the Company's Audit Committee has commenced a search to select the Company's new independent auditor.
ITEM 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c)	The following exhibit is being furnished herewith:
16.1 Letter dated July 15, 2004 from Ernst & Young LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding statements included in this Form 8-K.
SIGNATURES
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 hereunto duly authorized.
TOR MINERALS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
_____________________
(Registrant)
Date:  July 15, 2004
RICHARD BOWERS
Richard Bowers
President and CEO
Date:  July 15, 2004
LAWRENCE W. HAAS
Lawrence W. Haas
Treasurer and CFO
EXHIBIT INDEX
16.1	Letter dated July 15, 2004 from Ernst & Young LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding statements included in this Form 8-K.