<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
The following schedule contains summary financial information which has been
extracted from the consolidated financial statements of Golden Triangle
Industries, Inc. and subsidiarys for the periods ended December 31, 1997, 1996
and 1995, and from its quarterly financial statements filed on Form 10-Q for 
the periods presented.  These summary schedules are qualified in their 
entirety by reference to such financial statements and the notes thereto.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     YEAR         YEAR            YEAR         3-MOS          3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                DEC-31-1997   DEC-31-1996   DEC-31-1995   MAR-31-1996   MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                     DEC-31-1997   DEC-31-1996   DEC-31-1995   DEC-31-1996   DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                 95648        298521         86255         59558        218124
<SECURITIES>                           83579         43756          5427          4628         51363
<RECEIVABLES>                         849185        613240       1055321       1093936        969798
<ALLOWANCES>                               0             0             0             0             0
<INVENTORY>                           199627             0             0             0             0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                     1253008        955517       1208153       1303092       1229285
<PP&E>                               6645320       5547848       5147640       5297195       6626500
<DEPRECIATION>                      (1664197)     (1312245)     (1099991)     (1181219)     (1420488)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       6796852       6113063       5927676       6005292       6236029
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                 170732        115052        409597        460865        308611
<BONDS>                                    0             0             0             0             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                      0             0             0             0             0
<PREFERRED>                             5727          5727             0             0          5727
<COMMON>                                 580           546          1103          1133           569
<OTHER-SE>                           6619813       5980488       5516976       5471814       5714323
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>         6796852       6113063       5927676       6005292       6236029
<SALES>                              2452352       2792957       2594502        591450        762898
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                     2481715       2489295       2676204        591490        762913
<CGS>                                 964104       1030053        721830        139953        159787
<TOTAL-COSTS>                         964104       1030053        721830        139953        159787
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                      849255        804989        811389        289110        300500
<LOSS-PROVISION>                           0             0             0             0             0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       518         40755         14598            14             0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                       738898        632519       1139029        166103        320306
<INCOME-TAX>                          300114        281324        455860         35087        167627
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                   438784        351195        683169        131016        152679
<DISCONTINUED>                             0             0             0             0             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                            0             0             0             0             0
<CHANGES>                                  0             0             0             0             0
<NET-INCOME>                          438784        351195        683169        131016        152679
<EPS-PRIMARY>                           0.46          0.45          0.62          0.03          0.27
<EPS-DILUTED>                           0.46          0.44          0.62          0.03          0.27
        

</TABLE>