Exhibit 23



Consent of Independent Auditors



We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements and Post-Effective Amendments of our report dated February 25, 2004, with respect to
the consolidated financial statements of Oglebay Norton Company included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2003:



|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Registration Statement Number 33-58819 on Form S-8 dated April 26, 1995, pertaining to the Oglebay Norton Company Director Stock
Plan;                                                                                                
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Post-Effective Amendment Number 1 to Registration Statement Number 33-58819 on Form S-8 dated February 22, 2000, pertaining to the Oglebay
Norton Company Director Stock Plan;                                                        
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Post-Effective Amendment Number 2 to Registration Statement Number 33-58819 on Form S-8 dated May 11, 2001, pertaining to the Oglebay
Norton Company Director Stock Plan;                                                             
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Registration Statement Number 333-02781 on Form S-8 dated April 24, 1996, pertaining to the Oglebay Norton Company Long-Term Incentive
Plan;                                                                                          
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Post-Effective Amendment Number 1 to Registration Statement Number 333-02781 on Form S-8 dated August 3, 1999, pertaining to the Oglebay
Norton Company Long-Term Incentive Plan;                                                     
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Post-Effective Amendment Number 2 to Registration Statement Number 333-02781 on Form S-8 dated May 11, 2001, pertaining to the Oglebay
Norton Company Long-Term Incentive Plan;                                                       
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Registration Statement Number 333-84243 on Form S-8 dated August 2, 1999, pertaining to the Oglebay Norton Company 1999 Long-Term Incentive
Plan and Option Agreements with Two Executive Officers;                                   
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Post-Effective Amendment Number 1 to Registration Statement Number 333-84243 on Form S-8 dated May 11, 2001, pertaining to the Oglebay
Norton Company 1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan and Option Agreements with Two Executive Officers;
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Registration Statement Number 333-75225 on Form S-8 dated March 29, 1999, pertaining to the Oglebay Norton Company Performance Option
Agreement;                                                                                      



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|                                                                                                                                                                                         
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Post-Effective Amendment Number 1 to Registration Statement Number 333-75225 on Form S-8 dated May 11, 2001, pertaining to the Oglebay
Norton Company Performance Option Agreement;      
|                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Registration Statement Number 333-75223 on Form S-8 dated March 29, 1999, pertaining to the Oglebay Norton Company Director Fee Deferral
Plan;                                           
|                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Post-Effective Amendment Number 1 to Registration Statement Number 333-75223 on Form S-8 dated May 11, 2001, pertaining to the Oglebay
Norton Company Director Fee Deferral Plan;        
|                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Registration Statement Number 333-75221 on Form S-8 dated March 29, 1999, pertaining to the Oglebay Norton Incentive Savings and Stock
Ownership Plan;                                   
|                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Post-Effective Amendment Number 1 to Registration Statement Number 333-75221 on Form S-8 dated May 11, 2001, pertaining to the Oglebay
Norton Incentive Savings and Stock Ownership Plan;
|                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Registration Statement Number 333-60844 on Form S-8 dated May 14, 2001, pertaining to the Oglebay Norton Incentive Savings and Stock Ownership
Plan;                                     
|                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Registration Statement Number 333-53534 on Form S-4 dated January 11, 2001, pertaining to ON Minerals Company, Inc. (now known as Oglebay
Norton Company, an Ohio corporation);          
|                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Amendment Number 1 to Registration Statement Number 333-53534 on Form S-4 dated March 8, 2001, pertaining to ON Minerals Company,
Inc.;                                                  
|                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Registration Statement Number 333-98157 on Form S-8 dated August 15, 2002, pertaining to the Oglebay Norton Company 2002 Stock Option Plan;
and                                          
|                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Registration Statement on Form S-8 dated February 28, 2003, pertaining to the Restricted Stock Award to John N. Lauer.                                                                   



/S/    ERNST & YOUNG LLP



Cleveland, Ohio

March 26, 2004