Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                               U.S. $10,000,000

                  SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

                          Dated as of December 31, 2000

                                     Between

                               CARBO CERAMICS INC.

                                   as Borrower

                                       and

                          BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.

                                    as Lender

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<TABLE>
<S>                                                                        <C>
                                    ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS.............................  3
SECTION 1.01.     Definitions..............................................  3
SECTION 1.02.     Accounting and Other Terms...............................  8

                                   ARTICLE II
                       AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE COMMITMENT..................  8
SECTION 2.01.     The Commitment...........................................  8
SECTION 2.02.     Making the Advances......................................  9
SECTION 2.03.     Commitment Fee...........................................  9
SECTION 2.04.     Optional Termination of the Commitment...................  9
SECTION 2.05.     Selection of Interest Options............................ 10
SECTION 2.06.     Interest Rate Options.................................... 13
SECTION 2.07.     Special Provisions for LIBOR Rate Advances............... 15
SECTION 2.08.     Prepayments.............................................. 17
SECTION 2.09.     Indemnity and Release.................................... 17
SECTION 2.10.     Payments and Computations................................ 18
SECTION 2.11.     Evidence of Debt......................................... 19

                                   ARTICLE III
                              CONDITIONS OF LENDING........................ 19
SECTION 3.01.     Condition Precedent to Initial Advance................... 19
SECTION 3.02.     Conditions Precedent to All Advances..................... 21

                                   ARTICLE IV
                           REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.................. 22
SECTION 4.01.     Representations and Warranties........................... 22

                                    ARTICLE V
                           COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER....................... 25
SECTION 5.01.     Affirmative Covenants.................................... 25
SECTION 5.02.     Negative Covenants....................................... 30

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                EVENTS OF DEFAULT.......................... 31
SECTION 6.01.     Events of Default........................................ 31

                                   ARTICLE VII
                                  MISCELLANEOUS............................ 35
SECTION 7.01.     Amendments, Etc.......................................... 35
SECTION 7.02.     Notices, Etc............................................. 35
SECTION 7.03.     No Waiver; Remedies...................................... 35
SECTION 7.04.     Costs, Expenses, and Taxes............................... 36
SECTION 7.05.     Right of Set-off......................................... 36
SECTION 7.06.     Binding Effect........................................... 37
SECTION 7.07.     Governing Law............................................ 37
SECTION 7.08.     Merger of Agreements..................................... 38
</TABLE>

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Schedule I - Litigation

Schedule II - Permitted Liens

Exhibit A - Promissory Note

Exhibit B - Rollover Notice

Exhibit C - No-Default Certificate

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                           SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                          Dated as of December 31, 2000

         This Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement is made and effective
as of December 31, 2000, by and between CARBO CERAMICS INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Borrower"), and BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO., a New York
limited partnership (the "Lender").

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, the Lender and the Borrower entered into a First Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement dated February 12, 1998, as amended by a First
Amendment dated as of March 31, 1999, a Second Amendment dated as of December
31, 1999, and a Third Amendment dated as of March 31, 2000 (as so amended, the
"Credit Agreement"), pursuant to which the Lender committed, among other things,
to make loans, advances, and other credit facilities available to the Borrower;

         WHEREAS, the parties desire to amend and restate the Credit Agreement
in its entirety, as hereinafter set forth;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, for other valuable
consideration hereby acknowledged, and subject to the other terms and conditions
hereof, the Lender and the Borrower agree that the Credit Agreement shall be and
is hereby amended and restated in its entirety, effective the date hereof, as
follows:

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                                    ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS

         SECTION 1.01. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the respective meanings indicated below (such meanings to be
applicable equally to both the singular and plural forms of such terms).

         "Adjusted LIBOR Rate" means, an interest rate per annum (rounded
upwards, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100 of 1%) equal to the quotient
obtained by dividing (a) the LIBOR Rate for such LIBOR Interest Period by (b) a
percentage equal to one hundred percent (100%) minus the Eurodollar Reserve
Percentage applicable during such LIBOR Interest Period (or, if more than one
Eurodollar Reserve Percentage is so applicable, minus the daily average of such
Eurodollar Reserve Percentage for those days in such LIBOR Interest Period
during which any such Eurodollar Reserve Percentage may be so applicable).

         "Advance" shall mean a disbursement by the Lender to or for the benefit
of the Borrower, all as set forth in Section 2.01 hereof.

         "Agreement" means this Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement,
and all amendments, modifications, and supplements thereto.

         "Applicable Contract Rate" means either the Base Rate or the LIBOR
Fixed Rate, whichever is in effect during the particular time period in question
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

         "Authorized Officer" means, with respect to any act to be performed or
duty to be discharged by any entity which is not an individual, any officer or
other representative thereof then authorized to perform such act or discharge
such duty.

         "Base Rate" means a fluctuating rate per annum which shall be equal to
one-half of one percent (.50%) below the rate of interest established by the
Lender in New York, New York, from

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time to time as the Lender's base rate of interest charged by the Lender to
commercial borrowers in the United States of America.

         "Base Rate Advance" means an Advance during such time as it bears
interest, from time to time, at the Base Rate pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement.

         "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or a public
holiday or the equivalent for banks generally under the laws of the State of New
York.

         "Closing Date" means the date first shown herein, as of which this
Agreement is executed and effective.

         "Commitment" has the meaning set forth for such term in Section 2.01
hereof.

         "Consequential Loss" means, with respect to the Borrower's payment or
prepayment of the principal sum of a LIBOR Rate Advance on a day other than the
last day of the Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Rate Advance, any loss
or expense incurred by the Lender in redepositing such principal sum, including,
without limitation, the sum of (a) the interest which, but for such payment, the
Lender would have earned at the applicable LIBOR Fixed Rate, in respect of such
LIBOR Rate Advance so paid or prepaid, for the remainder of the LIBOR Interest
Period; reduced, if the Lender is reasonably able to redeposit such principal
sum so paid for the balance of such LIBOR Interest Period in a New York City
bank, by the interest earned by the Lender as a result of so redepositing such
principal sum, plus (b) any expense or penalty incurred by the Lender in
redepositing the principal sum of such LIBOR Rate Advance.

         "Conversion Date" has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(c)(2)
hereof.

         "Conversion Option" has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(c)(2)
hereof.

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         "EBITDA" means the Borrower's earnings before deduction of interest,
taxes, depreciation, and amortization.

         "Employee Plan" means an employee benefit plan or other plan covered by
Title IV of ERISA and maintained in whole or in part for employees of the
Borrower.

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as in effect
from time to time.

         "Eurodollar Reserve Percentage" means, as of the date of any
determination, that reserve percentage actually required to be reserved by the
Lender with respect to the Advances, which percentage is applicable during any
LIBOR Interest Period (or if more than one such percentage is so applicable, the
daily average of such percentages for those days in such LIBOR Interest Period
during which any such percentage shall be applicable) under the regulations
issued, from time to time, by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System (or other governmental authority having jurisdiction with regard thereto
or any successor), for determining the maximum reserve requirements (including,
without limitation, basic, supplemental, transitional, emergency, or marginal
reserve requirements) for the Lender in respect to liabilities or assets
consisting of, or including, "Eurocurrency liabilities" as defined in Regulation
D. It shall be assumed, for purposes of computing reserve costs hereunder, that
the making and maintaining of the LIBOR Rate Advances have been accomplished by
the Lender through the Lender's principal office in New York City, New York.

         "Event of Default" means any of the events set forth in Section 6.01
hereof.

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         "Fixed Charges" means, for any applicable period specified in Section
5.01(c) hereof, the aggregate of the Borrower's interest expense, lease expense,
principal payments, dividends and anticipated annual maintenance capital
expenditures of $4,000,000.

         "Increased Costs" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.07(b)
hereof.

         "Indebtedness" means (i) all indebtedness or other obligations for
borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or services, (ii)
all indebtedness or other obligations of another person for borrowed money, the
deferred purchase price of property or services (except for accounts payable by
the Borrower which have been incurred by the Borrower in the ordinary course of
its business), or otherwise, the payment or collection of which the Borrower has
guaranteed or in respect of which the Borrower has any direct or contingent
liability which is reportable on the Borrower's financial statements in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, (iii) all lease
obligations that, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied, have been or should be capitalized on the books of the
lessee and, for purposes hereof, the amount of such obligation shall be the
capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with such principles, and
(iv) any equity or other interest which, by its terms, is convertible into a
debt instrument.

         "Interest Payment Date" means, as to either a Base Rate Advance or a
LIBOR Rate Advance, the first (1st) day of each calendar month during the term
of the Commitment.

         "Interest Rate Option" has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(a)
hereof.

         "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.

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         "LIBOR Fixed Rate" means, during the applicable LIBOR Interest Period
for a LIBOR Rate Advance, an interest rate per annum which shall be equal to the
sum of (a) the LIBOR Rate Margin plus (b) the Adjusted LIBOR Rate for such LIBOR
Interest Period.

         "LIBOR Interest Period" means, with respect to a LIBOR Rate Advance, a
period commencing on the date specified by notice from the Borrower to the
Lender and ending on (but excluding) the date which is 30, 60, or 90 days
thereafter, as the Borrower shall elect.

         "LIBOR Rate" during each applicable LIBOR Interest Period for a LIBOR
Rate Advance, means an interest rate equal to the rate of interest per annum at
which U.S. dollar deposits are offered by the Lender to prime banks in the
London interbank market at 10:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to
the first (1st) day of such LIBOR Interest Period for a period equal to such
LIBOR Interest Period.

         "LIBOR Rate Advance" means an Advance during such time as it bears
interest, from time to time, at the LIBOR Fixed Rate pursuant to the provisions
of this Agreement.

         "LIBOR Rate Margin" means three-quarters of one percent (.75%) per
annum.

         "Loan Documents" means this Agreement, the Note, and all amendments,
modifications, and supplements thereto.

         "Maximum Rate" means the maximum rate of interest, if any, from time to
time permitted under federal or Texas laws applicable to the indebtedness
evidenced hereby.

         "No-Default Certificate" means a certificate by an authorized officer
of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto.

         "Note" has the meaning set forth for such term in Section 2.11 hereof.

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         "Prohibited Transaction" has the meaning specified therefor in Section
4975 of the Internal Revenue Code or Title I of ERISA.

         "Regulation D" means Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, as from time to time in effect, and shall include any
successor or other regulation relating to reserve requirements applicable to
member banks of the Federal Reserve System.

         "Reportable Event" has the meaning specified therefor in Title IV of
ERISA.

         "Rollover Notice" means a notice in the form of Exhibit B hereto.

         "Termination Date" means December 31, 2003; provided, however, that
such date may be extended by mutual consent for additional one-year periods;
provided further, however, if so extended, such extended date may be shortened
during any such one-year period to the end of any calendar quarter within such
one-year period, beginning March 31, 2004, upon not less than thirty (30) days
prior written notice from either party to the other party.

         SECTION 1.02. Accounting and Other Terms. All accounting terms used in
this Agreement which are not otherwise defined herein shall be construed in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied
unless otherwise expressly stated herein.

                                   ARTICLE II
                       AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE COMMITMENT

         SECTION 2.01. The Commitment. The Lender agrees, on the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth, to make Advances to the Borrower in an
aggregate principal amount not to exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000), as
such commitment may be terminated pursuant to Section 2.04 hereof (the
"Commitment"). Such Advances shall

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be made from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing
Date to the Termination Date. Each Advance shall be in an amount not less than
$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof, except that an Advance may be in an
amount equal to the entire unused Commitment. Within the limits of the
Commitment, the Borrower may borrow, prepay pursuant to Section 2.08, and
reborrow under this Section 2.01.

         SECTION 2.02. Making the Advances. Each Advance shall be made on the
same day the Borrower has given notice to the Lender, provided the Lender has
received such notice by 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such date. Such
notice shall be by telephone and shall be promptly confirmed by the Borrower in
writing. All such notices shall specify the date and amount thereof. Upon
fulfillment by the Borrower of the applicable conditions set forth in Article
III, the Lender will make such Advance available to the Borrower in immediately
available funds at the Lender's office at 59 Wall Street, New York, New York
10005.

         SECTION 2.03. Commitment Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Lender
a commitment fee on the average daily unused portion of the Commitment from the
Closing Date until the Termination Date at the rate of three-eighths (3/8) of
one percent (1%) per annum, payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business
Day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower for the then-ending fiscal quarter of
the Borrower in each year during such period, commencing March 31, 2001, and
ending on the Termination Date.

         SECTION 2.04. Optional Termination of the Commitment. The Borrower
shall have the right, upon (i) at least thirty (30) days' notice to the Lender
prior to the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower after the first
anniversary of the Closing Date, and (ii) full repayment of all sums, both
principal and accrued interest, then outstanding, to terminate the Commitment in
whole, but not in part. Simultaneously with any termination of the Commitment
under this Section, the Borrower

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shall pay to the Lender the commitment fee earned through the Termination Date
on the amount of the Commitment so terminated.

         SECTION 2.05. Selection of Interest Options. Subject to Section 2.06,
and provided that no Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, the
outstanding principal balance of each Advance shall bear interest at the LIBOR
Fixed Rate or the Base Rate, in accordance with the following:

                  (a) Interest on a Base Rate Advance. A Base Rate Advance shall
         bear interest on the unpaid principal balance thereof, from time to
         time outstanding, at a fluctuating interest rate per annum which shall,
         from day to day, be equal to the lesser of either: (1) the Base Rate;
         or (2) the Maximum Rate. Each change in either the Base Rate or the
         Maximum Rate (or any component of the Base Rate or the Maximum Rate) as
         the case may be, shall become effective, without notice to the Borrower
         (which notice is hereby expressly waived by the Borrower), on the date
         of each change in either of such interest rates (or any component of
         any of such interest rates).

                  (b) Interest on a LIBOR Rate Advance. A LIBOR Rate Advance
         shall bear interest, during each LIBOR Interest Period applicable
         thereto, on the unpaid principal balance thereof, from time to time
         outstanding, at an interest rate per annum which shall, from day to
         day, be equal to the lesser of either: (1) the applicable LIBOR Fixed
         Rate; or (2) the Maximum Rate. Each change in the Maximum Rate or any
         component of the Maximum Rate, as the case may be, shall become
         effective, without notice to the Borrower (which notice is hereby
         expressly waived by the Borrower) on the date of each change in such
         interest rate or any component of such interest rate.

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                  (c) Advance Deemed To Be Base Rate Advance. Unless the
         Borrower selects the LIBOR Fixed Rate as the Applicable Contract Rate
         with regard to an Advance, as provided for in this Article II, such
         Advance shall be deemed to be a Base Rate Advance for the purpose of
         computing interest thereon pursuant to this Agreement.

                  (d) Interest Recoupment. If, at any time, the Applicable
         Contract Rate then in effect shall exceed the Maximum Rate, thereby
         causing the Applicable Contract Rate to be limited to the Maximum Rate,
         any subsequent reductions in the Applicable Contract Rate shall not
         reduce the Applicable Contract Rate below the Maximum Rate until the
         total amount of interest accrued on the unpaid principal balance of the
         Advances from time to time outstanding during the term thereof, equals
         the amount of interest which would have accrued thereon if the various
         Applicable Contract Rates which are applicable to the unpaid principal
         balances of the Advances from time to time outstanding during the term
         of this Agreement, had at all times been in effect without the
         limitation of the Maximum Rate.

                  (e) Final Interest Payment. If on the date of the final
         payment of all Advances (whether on the Termination Date or otherwise),
         the total amount of interest actually paid, or accrued, under the
         provisions of the Loan Documents is less than the total amount of
         interest which would have accrued if the various Applicable Contract
         Rates had at all times been applicable to the principal balance of the
         Advances, from time to time outstanding, during the term of this
         Agreement, the Borrower agrees to pay, to the extent permitted by
         applicable law, to the Lender an amount equal to the difference
         between: (1) the lesser of either (A) the amount of interest which
         would have accrued on the Advances if the Maximum Rate had at all times
         been in effect, or (B) the amount of interest which would

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         have accrued on the Advances if the various Applicable Contract Rates
         had at all times been in effect without the limitation of the Maximum
         Rate; and (2) the amount of interest which has actually accrued or been
         paid on the Advances through the date of such final payment in
         accordance with the provisions of the Loan Documents.

                  (f) Interest After Maturity of the Advances. All delinquent
         payments of principal and/or interest on the Advances shall bear
         interest at a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus
         four percent (4%) from the date due until paid.

                  (g) Interest Payment Dates. Interest on the aggregate
         principal balance of the Advances from time to time outstanding shall
         be payable as it accrues on each Interest Payment Date, beginning with
         the Interest Payment Date following the Closing Date, and continuing on
         each Interest Payment Date thereafter, until the maturity thereof.

                  (h) Payment on Business Day. If any payment of principal or
         interest to be made on the Advances shall become due on a day other
         than a Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding
         Business Day (unless the result of such extension of time would be to
         extend the date for such payment into another calendar month, beyond
         the maturity date of the Advances or beyond the expiration of the
         applicable LIBOR Interest Period, in such event, said payment shall be
         made on the Business Day immediately preceding the day on which such
         payment would otherwise have been due) and such extension of time shall
         in such case be included in computing of interest, if any, in
         connection with such payment.

                  (i) Additional Amounts Payable Upon Prepayments or Other
         Payments of LIBOR Rate Advances. If any LIBOR Rate Advance is to be
         prepaid, or if the Borrower

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         makes any principal payments with respect to any such LIBOR Rate
         Advance on any date other than the last day of the LIBOR Interest
         Period for such LIBOR Rate Advance, the Borrower shall reimburse the
         Lender, on demand, for all Consequential Loss and Increased Costs
         incurred by Lender, plus all accrued, but unpaid, interest on the
         amount so prepaid to such prepayment or payment date, together with any
         other amounts owing to the Lender in connection with such prepayment or
         payment pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any of the other
         Loan Documents. All prepayments (whether optional or otherwise) made
         pursuant to this Agreement shall be applied first to accrued, but
         unpaid, interest and then to principal. A certificate of the Lender
         setting forth the amount of any such loss or cost shall, in the absence
         of manifest error or bad faith, be final, binding, and conclusive for
         all purposes. Any conversion of any LIBOR Rate Advance to a Base Rate
         Advance on a day other than on the last day of the applicable LIBOR
         Interest Period shall be deemed a principal prepayment for the purpose
         of this Subsection 2.05(i).

                  SECTION 2.06 Interest Rate Options.

                  (a) Interest Rate Options. Subject to the provisions of this
         Section 2.06, and provided that no Event of Default has occurred and is
         continuing, the Borrower shall have the option of having an Advance
         bear interest at the Base Rate or the LIBOR Fixed Rate (an "Interest
         Rate Option"); provided, however, that (i) the Borrower may not have
         more than three (3) Interest Rate Options which select the LIBOR Fixed
         Rate for the Advances in effect at any one time and (ii) no Interest
         Rate Option which selects the LIBOR Fixed Rate for any portion of the
         Advances shall be for an amount less than the principal amount of
         $2,000,000 plus an integral multiple of $100,000.

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                  (b) Changes in Interest Rate Options. Each change in Interest
         Rate Options made pursuant to this Section 2.06 shall, for all purposes
         of this Agreement, be deemed both a payment of the Base Rate Advance or
         LIBOR Rate Advance, whichever is applicable, from which such change was
         made and a borrowing (notwithstanding that the aggregate unpaid
         principal of the Advances is not thereby changed) of the Base Rate
         Advance or LIBOR Rate Advance, whichever is applicable, into which such
         Advance is converted.

                  (c) Selection of Interest Rate Options. The Borrower may
         select an Interest Rate Option by giving the Lender a Rollover Notice
         in accordance with the provisions of subsections (1) or (2) below, as
         applicable, which notice shall specify a LIBOR Interest Period;
         provided, however, that (i) any LIBOR Interest Period which would
         otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day shall be extended to
         the next succeeding Business Day, unless the result of such extension
         would be to extend such LIBOR Interest Period into another calendar
         month, in which event such LIBOR Interest Period shall end on the
         immediately preceding Business Day; (ii) any LIBOR Interest Period that
         begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month shall end on the
         last Business Day of a calendar month; (iii) any LIBOR Interest Period
         which begins on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding
         day in the calendar month at the end of such LIBOR Interest Period
         shall end on the last Business Day of such calendar month; (iv) the
         length of each LIBOR Interest Period selected by the Borrower shall be
         irrevocable for the period so selected; and (v) no LIBOR Interest
         Period shall extend beyond the Termination Date.

                           (1) Selection at Expiration of LIBOR Interest Period.
                  Before the termination of any LIBOR Interest Period, and
                  provided that no Event of Default has

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                  occurred and is continuing, the Borrower shall give the Lender
                  a Rollover Notice specifying the Interest Rate Option which
                  shall be applicable to such LIBOR Rate Advance upon the
                  expiration of such LIBOR Interest Period. Such Rollover Notice
                  shall be given to the Lender at least three (3) Business Days
                  before the termination of such LIBOR Interest Period. If the
                  Borrower shall specify the LIBOR Fixed Rate, such Rollover
                  Notice shall also specify the length of the succeeding LIBOR
                  Interest Period selected by the Borrower. Each Rollover Notice
                  shall be irrevocable and effective upon receipt thereof by the
                  Lender. If the required Rollover Notice shall not have been
                  timely received by the Lender as herein provided before
                  expiration of the then relevant LIBOR Interest Period, the
                  applicable LIBOR Rate Advance shall be automatically converted
                  to a Base Rate Advance on the last day of the then current
                  LIBOR Interest Period for such LIBOR Rate Advance.

                           (2) Conversion Option. With respect to Base Rate
                  Advances, and provided no Event of Default has occurred and is
                  continuing, the Borrower shall have the option ("Conversion
                  Option"), on any Business Day ("Conversion Date"), to convert
                  from the Base Rate to the LIBOR Fixed Rate by giving the
                  Lender a Rollover Notice specifying such Conversion Option at
                  least three (3) Business Days prior to such Conversion Date.

         SECTION 2.07 Special Provisions for LIBOR Rate Advances.

                  (a) Unavailability, Illegality, or Inadequacy of the LIBOR
         Fixed Rate. If at any time the Lender determines (which determination
         shall, for all purposes, be final, conclusive, and binding on the
         Borrower) that: (1) the Lender is unable, or that it has become
         unlawful

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<PAGE>   18

         for the Lender to obtain, or cause to be obtained, funds in the London
         interbank market in order to make, fund, or maintain the principal
         balances of any LIBOR Rate Advances during any applicable LIBOR
         Interest Period; or (2) the LIBOR Fixed Rate will not adequately and
         fairly reflect the cost to the Lender of making, maintaining, or
         funding LIBOR Rate Advances for such LIBOR Interest Period, the Lender
         shall so notify the Borrower by telephone or telex (to be confirmed in
         writing) of such determination, whereupon, until the Lender notifies
         the Borrower that the circumstances which have given rise to such
         notice no longer exist, (A) the obligation of the Lender to provide the
         LIBOR Fixed Rate with respect to such LIBOR Rate Advances shall be
         suspended, and (B) such LIBOR Rate Advances shall be made, continued
         as, or converted to Base Rate Advances.

                  (b) Increased Costs. If due either to: (1) the introduction
         of, or any change (including, without limitation, any change by way of
         any imposition or increase of reserve requirements) in the
         interpretation of, any law or regulation, including, without
         limitation, Regulation D or (2) the compliance by the Lender with any
         guideline or request from any central bank or other governmental
         authority (whether or not having the force of law), there shall be any
         increase in the cost to the Lender of agreeing to make, fund, or
         maintain the LIBOR Rate Advances (such costs being herein collectively
         called "Increased Costs"), the Borrower shall, from time to time, upon
         demand by the Lender, pay to the Lender, such additional amounts as are
         sufficient to indemnify the Lender against such Increased Costs. Absent
         manifest error, a certificate as to the amount of such Increased Costs,
         submitted to the Borrower by the Lender shall, for all purposes, be
         final, conclusive, and binding on the Borrower. It shall be assumed for
         purposes of computing Increased Costs, that the making

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<PAGE>   19

         and maintaining of LIBOR Rate Advances has been by the Lender's
         principal office in New York City, New York.

                  (c) Indemnity. Without prejudice to any other provisions of
         this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, the Borrower shall
         indemnify the Lender against any loss or expense which the Lender (or
         its branches, subsidiaries, affiliates, or partners) may sustain or
         incur as a consequence of any Event of Default by the Borrower in
         making any payment when due of any amount due hereunder or in making
         any scheduled borrowing hereunder with respect to any LIBOR Rate
         Advance, including, without limitation, any loss of profit, premium or
         penalty incurred by the Lender (or its branches, subsidiaries,
         affiliates, or partners) in respect of funds borrowed by the Lender (or
         its branches, subsidiaries, affiliates, or partners), for the purpose
         of maintaining such LIBOR Rate Advance, as determined by the Lender in
         the exercise of its sole, but reasonable, discretion. Absent manifest
         error, a certificate as to any such loss or expense submitted by the
         Lender to the Borrower shall, for all purposes, be final, conclusive,
         and binding on the Borrower.

         SECTION 2.08. Prepayments. The Borrower shall have the right to prepay
any principal amount of any Advance, in whole or in part, subject to the
requirements of Sections 2.05(i) and 2.09, but otherwise without premium or
penalty; provided, however, that each such partial prepayment shall be in an
integral multiple of $1,000, except that a prepayment may be in an amount equal
to the entire outstanding principal balance of all Advances.

         SECTION 2.09. Indemnity and Release. The Borrower shall indemnify the
Lender against any loss or expense which the Lender may sustain or incur as a
consequence of any failure by the Borrower to fulfill on the date of any Advance
hereunder the applicable conditions set forth

                                       17
<PAGE>   20

in Article III, any default in payment or prepayment of the principal amount of
any Advance or any part thereof or interest accrued thereon, as and when due and
payable (at the due date thereof, by irrevocable notice of prepayment, or
otherwise), or the occurrence of any Event of Default. By its execution hereof,
the Borrower hereby certifies to the Lender that as of the date hereof, (i) all
representations and warranties heretofore made by it under any credit agreement,
promissory note or other instrument or document related thereto which are
amended by or which relate to this Agreement are true in all material respects,
(ii) the Borrower does not have or claim to have any offset, counterclaim, or
defense to any of its obligations under any of such prior instruments or
documents, and (iii) in consideration of and to induce the Lender's agreement to
the terms of this Agreement, the Borrower, for itself and its successors and
assigns, does hereby RELEASE, ACQUIT, and FOREVER DISCHARGE the Lender, its
partners, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, other representatives and all
other persons, (collectively, the "Indemnitees") who might be liable, from any
and all claims, demands, liabilities, and causes of action of whatsoever nature,
whether in contract or in tort, or arising under or by virtue of any statute,
rule, regulation, or other laws, for all losses and damages, including but not
limited to exemplary and punitive damages, that have accrued or may ever accrue
to the Borrower and its successors and assigns, and which arise out of, result
from, or are caused by any act or omission of any one or more of the Indemnitees
on or prior to the date hereof in connection with the Loan Documents, or any
matter or thing in connection therewith or related thereto. The Lender shall use
its best efforts to mitigate any loss and to reduce any expense for which it is
being indemnified pursuant to this Section.

         SECTION 2.10. Payments and Computations. (a) The Borrower shall make
each payment hereunder and under the Note not later than 12:00 noon (New York
City time) on the day

                                       18
<PAGE>   21

when due in lawful money of the United States of America to the Lender for the
account of Borrower at the Lender's office at 59 Wall Street, New York, New York
10005, in same day funds.

                  (b) The Borrower hereby authorizes the Lender, if and to the
         extent payment for interest, principal, or fees is not made when due
         hereunder or under the Note, to charge from time to time against any of
         the Borrower's accounts with the Lender any amount so due.

                  (c) Except to the extent the result would cause an interest
         rate to exceed the Maximum Rate, all computations of interest and of
         commitment fees hereunder shall be made by the Lender on the basis of a
         year of 360 days for the actual number of days (including the first day
         but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such
         interest or commitment fee is payable.

         SECTION 2.11. Evidence of Debt. The indebtedness of the Borrower
resulting from all Advances made from time to time shall be evidenced by a
promissory note of the Borrower, in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto
(the "Note"), delivered to the Lender pursuant to Article III.

                                   ARTICLE III
                              CONDITIONS OF LENDING

         SECTION 3.01. Condition Precedent to Initial Advance. The obligation of
the Lender to make its initial Advance is subject to the fulfillment, in a
manner satisfactory to the Lender, of each of the following conditions
precedent:

                  (a) The making of the Commitment shall not contravene any law,
         rule, or regulation applicable to the Lender.

                                       19
<PAGE>   22

                  (b) No material adverse change in the condition or operations,
         financial or otherwise, of the Borrower, as reasonably determined by
         the Lender, shall have occurred and be continuing since the date of the
         latest audited financial statements of the Borrower provided to the
         Lender, the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01
         shall be true and correct, and no event shall have occurred and be
         continuing, or would result from such Advance, which constitutes or
         could constitute an Event of Default, as set forth in a certificate
         from an Authorized Officer of the Borrower dated as of the Closing
         Date.

                  (c) The Lender shall have received the following, in form and
         substance satisfactory to the Lender:

                           (i) the Note, duly executed by the Borrower;

                           (ii) a copy of the resolutions of the Borrower's
                  Board of Directors, certified as of the Closing Date by an
                  Authorized Officer thereof, authorizing (A) the transactions
                  contemplated by the Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a
                  party and (B) the execution, delivery, and performance by the
                  Borrower of the Loan Documents;

                           (iii) a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, of
                  an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, certifying the names
                  and genuine signatures of the officers of the Borrower
                  authorized to sign on behalf of the Borrower the Loan
                  Documents and the other documents to be executed and delivered
                  by the Borrower in connection herewith, together with evidence
                  of the incumbency of such Authorized Officer;

                           (iv) a copy of the Articles of Incorporation of the
                  Borrower, recently certified by the Secretary of State of the
                  State of Delaware;

                                       20
<PAGE>   23

                           (v) a copy of the By-laws of the Borrower, certified
                  as of the Closing Date by an Authorized Officer;

                           (vi) Certificates of Existence and Good Standing of
                  the Borrower, issued by the appropriate government officials
                  of the State of Delaware, the State of Texas and any other
                  applicable jurisdiction, together with any other evidence
                  satisfactory to the Lender that the Borrower has been duly
                  formed, is validly existing and in good standing under the
                  laws of the State of Delaware and has been duly qualified to
                  do business and is in good standing under the laws of the
                  State of Texas and each other jurisdiction where the Borrower
                  does business;

                           (vii) a favorable written opinion of Thompson &
                  Knight, LLP, counsel to the Borrower, dated the Closing Date,
                  as to such matters as the Lender may reasonably request; and

                           (viii) payment of a closing fee of $7,500.

         SECTION 3.02. Conditions Precedent to All Advances. The obligation of
the Lender to make each Advance shall be subject to the further conditions
precedent that, on the date of such Advance (a) the Lender shall have received a
notice of such Advance as required by Section 2.02 hereof, (b) the following
statements shall be true, and by making or sending any such notice of an
Advance, the Borrower shall be deemed to have made the following statements to
the Lender as of the date on which such notice is made or sent to the Lender:

                           (i) The representations and warranties contained in
                  Section 4.01 are true and correct on and as of the date of
                  such Advance as though made on and as of such date, and

                                       21
<PAGE>   24

                           (ii) No event has occurred and is continuing, or
                  would result from such Advance, which constitutes an Event of
                  Default; and

(c) the Lender shall have received such other approvals, opinions, or documents
as the Lender may reasonably request.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         SECTION 4.01. Representations and Warranties. The Borrower represents
and warrants as follows:

                  (a) The Borrower is a corporation duly organized and validly
         existing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Borrower is duly
         qualified to do business and in good standing in the States of Texas,
         Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and every other jurisdiction in which the
         transaction of any material portion of its business (as now conducted
         and as currently contemplated) makes such qualification necessary.

                  (b) The execution, delivery, and performance by the Borrower
         of each Loan Document is within the Borrower's powers, has been duly
         authorized by all necessary action, does not contravene (i) the
         Borrower's charter or by-laws or (ii) any law or governmental
         regulation or contractual restriction binding on or affecting the
         Borrower or any of its properties, and does not result in or require
         the creation of any lien, security interest, or other charge or
         encumbrance upon or with respect to any of its properties.

                  (c) No authorization or approval or other action by, and no
         notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body
         is required for the due execution,

                                       22
<PAGE>   25

         delivery, and performance by the Borrower of any Loan Document to which
         it is or will be a party.

                  (d) This Agreement is, and each Loan Document to which the
         Borrower will be a party when delivered hereunder, will be the legal,
         valid, and binding obligations of the Borrower, legally enforceable
         against the Borrower in accordance with their respective terms.

                  (e) Except as set forth on Schedule I hereto, there is no
         action, suit, or proceeding pending or threatened against or otherwise
         affecting the Borrower before any court, arbitrator, or governmental
         department, commission, board, bureau, agency, or instrumentality,
         which may materially adversely affect the condition or operations,
         financial or otherwise, of the Borrower or the ability of the Borrower
         to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents.

                  (f) The financial statements of the Borrower heretofore
         provided to the Lender by the Borrower fairly present the financial
         condition of the Borrower as at the respective dates thereof, and the
         results of operations of the Borrower for the fiscal periods ended on
         such respective dates, all in accordance with generally accepted
         accounting principles consistently applied, subject to changes
         resulting from normal year-end audit adjustments, and, since December
         31, 1999, there has been no material adverse change in such condition
         or operations.

                  (g) The Borrower is not engaged in the business of extending
         credit for the purpose of purchasing, carrying, or trading in
         securities (within the meaning of Regulation T issued by the Board of
         Governors of the Federal Reserve System), and no proceeds of any

                                       23
<PAGE>   26

         Advance will be used to purchase, carry, or trade in any such
         securities or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing,
         carrying, or trading in any such securities.

                  (h) All federal, state, and local tax returns and other
         material reports required by applicable law to be filed by the Borrower
         have been filed, and except with respect to any taxes, assessments, or
         other governmental charges being contested in good faith by the
         Borrower, all taxes, assessments, and other governmental charges
         imposed upon the Borrower or any of its properties which have become
         due and payable on or prior to the date hereof have been paid.

                  (i) Each Employee Plan, if any, of the Borrower has satisfied
         the minimum funding standards under the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA
         applicable thereto, and no Employee Plan, if any, has an accumulated
         funding deficiency thereunder. The Borrower has not incurred any
         liability under ERISA to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation with
         respect to any Employee Plan, and no Reportable Event or other event
         has occurred which could constitute grounds for the termination of any
         Employee Plan by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or the
         appointment of a trustee to administer any Employee Plan. The Borrower
         has not participated in any Prohibited Transaction with respect to any
         Employee Plan or trust created thereunder, and the consummation of the
         transactions contemplated hereby will not involve any Prohibited
         Transaction. The Borrower is not in the process of terminating any
         Employee Plan, which could result in the creation of any material
         liability for the Borrower.

                  (j) The Borrower has not violated its charter or by-laws or
         any law, governmental regulation, order, judgment, or any agreement or
         instrument binding on or affecting it or any

                                       24
<PAGE>   27

         of its properties in such a manner so as to result in a material
         adverse change to the condition or operations, financial or otherwise,
         of the Borrower.

                  (k) Except as set forth on Schedule II hereto, and except as
         may be created by statute, all of the real property owned by the
         Borrower, including any and all real property leasehold interests, is
         free and clear of all liens, security interests, and other charges and
         encumbrances.

                  (l) The Borrower has not made a material misstatement of or
         failed to disclose a material fact to the Lender at any time during the
         course of the negotiations related to this Agreement or in connection
         with the Advances.

                  (m) No proceeds of any Advance will be used to acquire any
         security in any transaction which is subject to Sections 13 and 14 of
         the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All proceeds of the Advances will
         be used for general corporate and working capital purposes.

                                    ARTICLE V
                            COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER

         SECTION 5.01. Affirmative Covenants. So long as any principal of or
interest on the Note shall remain unpaid or the Lender shall have any Commitment
hereunder, the Borrower will, unless the Lender shall otherwise consent in
writing:

                  (a) Current Ratio. Maintain a ratio of its current assets to
         its current liabilities of not less than 2.5 to 1.0.

                  (b) Minimum Tangible Net Worth. Maintain an amount of tangible
         net worth of at least $95,000,000 at all times during its fiscal year
         2001, and cause the amount of such

                                       25
<PAGE>   28

         capital to increase in each fiscal year thereafter by at least fifty
         percent (50%) of its net income in the immediately preceding fiscal
         year.

                  (c) Earnings Ratio. Maintain a ratio of its EBITDA to its
         Fixed Charges greater than 2.5 to 1.0 calculated quarterly on a rolling
         four (4) quarter basis for the four (4) quarters immediately preceding
         the date of such calculation.

                  (d) Ratio of Debt to Worth. Maintain a ratio of its total
         Indebtedness to its tangible net worth of less than 0.5 to 1.0.

                  (e) Capital Expenditures. Maintain its level of capital
         expenditures in any fiscal year at a level not more than one-half the
         amount of its EBITDA for the preceding fiscal year.

                  (f) Reporting Requirements. Furnish to the Lender:

                           (i) as soon as available and in any event within 45
                  days after the end of each quarter of each fiscal year of the
                  Borrower, (A) unaudited financial statements (including a
                  balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows)
                  of the Borrower as of the end of such quarter, in reasonable
                  detail, prepared in accordance with generally accepted
                  accounting principles consistently applied and duly certified
                  by the Treasurer of the Borrower as (1) fairly presenting the
                  financial condition of the Borrower at the end of such quarter
                  and the results of the operations of the Borrower for such
                  period (subject to changes resulting from normal year-end
                  audit adjustments) and (2) having been prepared in accordance
                  with generally accepted accounting principles consistently
                  applied, together with a No-Default Certificate of such
                  officer and (B) a copy of SEC Form 10-Q, as filed by the
                  Borrower with the Securities and

                                       26
<PAGE>   29

                  Exchange Commission for such quarter, unless such SEC Form
                  10-Q is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by
                  means of the EDGAR electronic filing system;

                           (ii) as soon as available and in any event within 90
                  days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, (A)
                  audited financial statements (including a balance sheet,
                  income statement, and statement of cash flows) of the Borrower
                  for such fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in
                  accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
                  consistently applied, accompanied by a report and opinion,
                  based on an end-of-year review, each in form and substance
                  reasonably satisfactory to the Lender, of a public accounting
                  firm reasonably satisfactory to the Lender, together with a
                  No-Default Certificate and (B) a copy of SEC Form 10-K, as
                  filed by the Borrower with the Securities and Exchange
                  Commission for such fiscal year, unless such SEC Form 10-K is
                  filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by means of
                  the EDGAR electronic filing system;

                           (iii) as soon as possible and in any event within
                  five (5) days after the occurrence of each Event of Default or
                  event which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or
                  both, would constitute an Event of Default, and which is
                  continuing on the date of such statement, the statement of the
                  Treasurer or the President of the Borrower setting forth the
                  details of such Event of Default or event and the action which
                  the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto;

                           (iv) promptly after the filing or receipt thereof,
                  copies of all reports and notices, if any, which the Borrower
                  either (A) files in respect of any Employee Plan

                                       27
<PAGE>   30

                  under the Internal Revenue Code or ERISA with the Internal
                  Revenue Service, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or
                  the U.S. Department of Labor, or which the Borrower receives
                  from any agency thereof, (B) furnishes to any holders of any
                  Indebtedness of the Borrower, or (C) files with the Securities
                  and Exchange Commission on SEC Form 8-K, if any of the
                  information therein could form the basis of, or any dispute
                  referred to therein which, if determined adversely to the
                  Borrower, could constitute or give rise to, an Event of
                  Default or an event which, with the giving of notice or the
                  lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default;

                           (v) within five Business Days after the knowledge of
                  the Borrower of the commencement thereof, notice of each
                  action, suit, or proceeding before any court, arbitrator, or
                  governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency, or
                  instrumentality involving a claim which may materially
                  adversely affect the condition or operations, financial or
                  otherwise, of the Borrower;

                           (vi) as soon as available and in any event within 45
                  days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, a
                  quarterly summary setting forth any contingent liability
                  (including but not limited to any liability as a guarantor,
                  surety, warrantor, or account party to a letter of credit)
                  incurred, assumed, or created during such period and any
                  material joint venture or partnership entered into by the
                  Borrower; and

                           (vii) promptly upon request, such other information
                  concerning the condition or operations, financial or
                  otherwise, as the Lender may from time to time reasonably
                  request.

                                       28
<PAGE>   31

                  (g) Maintenance of Existence, Compliance with Laws. Etc.
         Maintain its legal existence and permits and authority to do business
         in all jurisdictions where the nature of its business requires such
         permits and authority to be maintained, and comply in all material
         respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and orders, such
         compliance to include, without limitation, compliance with ERISA and
         all applicable laws pertaining to the environment and workers' health
         and safety, paying before the same become delinquent all taxes,
         assessments, and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon
         its income or profits or upon any of its properties, and paying all
         lawful claims which if unpaid might become a lien or charge upon any of
         its properties, except to the extent any such taxes, assessments,
         governmental charges or levies, and claims may be diligently contested
         by the Borrower in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, and for
         which adequate reserves have been established by the Borrower.

                  (h) Insurance. (i) Keep its insurable properties adequately
         insured at all times by financially sound and reputable insurers to
         such extent and against such risks, including fire and other risks
         insured against by extended coverage, as is customary with companies
         similarly situated and in the same or similar businesses, (ii) maintain
         in full force and effect public liability insurance against claims for
         personal injury or death or property damage occurring upon, in, about,
         or in connection with the use of any properties owned, occupied, or
         controlled by the Borrower, in such amount as shall be reasonably
         necessary, and (iii) maintain such other insurance as may be required
         by law. The amounts and types of insurance coverages and the insurers
         issuing such coverages shall be subject to the Lender's approval, which
         approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

                                       29
<PAGE>   32

                  (i) Keeping of Records and Books of Account. Keep adequate
         records and books of account, with complete entries made in accordance
         with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied,
         reflecting all of its financial transactions.

                  (j) Inspection Rights. Permit the Lender or any of its
         representatives or agents at any reasonable time and from time to time,
         upon reasonable notice, to examine and make copies of and abstracts
         from its records and books of account, to visit and inspect its
         properties and to discuss its affairs, finances, and accounts with any
         of the directors or officers thereof, all as the Lender may reasonably
         request.

         SECTION 5.02. Negative Covenants. So long as any principal of or
interest on the Note shall remain unpaid or the Lender shall have any Commitment
hereunder, the Borrower will not, without the prior written consent of the
Lender:

                  (a) Liens, Etc. Create or suffer to exist any lien, security
         interest, or other charge or encumbrance, or any other type of
         preferential arrangement, upon or with respect to any of its
         properties, rights, or other assets, whether now owned or hereafter
         acquired, other than:

                           (i) liens existing as of the date hereof, as shown on
                  Schedule II hereto; and

                           (ii) such other liens as may be mutually agreed upon
                  by the Lender and the Borrower from time to time.

                  (b) Indebtedness. Create, incur, or suffer to exist any
         Indebtedness which would cause the ratio of its total Indebtedness to
         its tangible net worth to exceed the ratio specified in Section
         5.01(d), above.

                                       30
<PAGE>   33

                  (c) Change in Nature of Business. Change the primary nature of
         its business from the manufacture of ceramic proppants.

                  (d) Sales, Etc. of Assets. Sell, assign, lease, or otherwise
         dispose of any of its assets, or any part thereof, including its
         receivables, except in the ordinary course of business.

                  (e) Consolidation, Merger, Etc. Consolidate with, merge into,
         or acquire any other entity or convey, transfer, or lease its
         properties, voting stock, and assets substantially as an entirety to
         any person or entity, or permit any entity to consolidate with, merge
         into, or acquire the Borrower or convey, transfer, or lease its
         properties, voting stock, or assets substantially as an entirety to the
         Borrower; provided, however, that the Lender's prior written consent
         shall not be required for any such transaction (i) in which the other
         party's principal business is the same as or functionally related to
         the Borrower's principal business and (ii) which, when combined with
         all other such transactions consummated by the Borrower during any one
         of its fiscal years does not involve an aggregate payment by the
         Borrower of consideration in cash, securities, or otherwise, of more
         than $40,000,000; provided further, that nothing in this subsection (e)
         shall be deemed to permit the Borrower to incur any Indebtedness not
         expressly permitted under subsection (b) of this Section 5.02.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                EVENTS OF DEFAULT

         SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. If any of the following events
("Events of Default") shall occur and be continuing:

                                       31
<PAGE>   34

                  (a) The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal amount of, or
         interest on, the Note when due; or

                  (b) Any representation or warranty made by the Borrower (or
         any of its officers) under or in connection with any Loan Document
         shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made;
         or

                  (c) The Borrower (i) shall fail to perform or observe any
         covenant in subsections (c), (d), or (e) of Section 5.02 hereof, or
         (ii) shall fail to perform or observe any other term, covenant, or
         agreement contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or
         observed, and which failure continues for a period of fifteen (15) days
         or more, or

                  (d) The Borrower shall (i) fail to pay any Indebtedness,
         including all currently existing Indebtedness of the Borrower to the
         Lender, but excluding Indebtedness evidenced by the Note, of the
         Borrower, when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment,
         acceleration, demand, or otherwise) and such failure shall continue
         after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement
         or instrument relating to such Indebtedness, or (ii) fail to perform or
         observe any term, covenant, or condition on its part to be performed or
         observed under any agreement or instrument relating to any such
         Indebtedness, when required to be performed or observed, and such
         failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any,
         specified in such agreement or instrument; or any such Indebtedness
         shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid
         (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment), prior to the
         stated maturity thereof; or

                  (e) The Borrower shall admit in writing its inability to pay
         its debts as they come due, or shall make a general assignment for the
         benefit of creditors; or any proceeding shall

                                       32
<PAGE>   35

         be instituted by or against the Borrower seeking reorganization,
         arrangement, adjustment, composition of it or its debts, or any other
         relief under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, or relief of debtors, or seeking appointment of a
         receiver, trustee, or other similar official for it or for any
         substantial part of its property; or the Borrower shall take any action
         to authorize any of the actions set forth above in this subsection (e);
         or

                  (f) The Borrower shall receive notice of termination of an
         Employee Plan by reason of the occurrence of a Reportable Event; or

                  (g) The Borrower shall fail to maintain all material licenses,
         authorizations, and approvals required to operate its business, which
         failure is not cured to the Lender's satisfaction within fifteen (15)
         days following the occurrence of such failure; or

                  (h) The Borrower shall liquidate, dissolve, or take any action
         in contemplation thereof, or there shall be any change in the material
         terms of Borrower's charter or by-laws without the prior written
         consent of the Lender, which consent shall not be unreasonably
         withheld; or

                  (i) The validity or the enforceability of any of the Loan
         Documents is contested by the Borrower; or

                  (j) The entry of a final non-appealable judgment or order
         against the Borrower for the payment of money of $1,000,000 or more in
         excess of amounts covered by third-party insurance, and such judgment
         or order shall continue unsatisfied and in effect for a period of 60
         consecutive days; or

                                       33
<PAGE>   36

                  (k) The failure of the persons who were the shareholders of
         the Borrower on March 31, 1996 to maintain their beneficial ownership,
         in the aggregate, of at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the
         outstanding voting stock of the Borrower; or

                  (l) Any action or proceeding shall be initiated by or against
         the Borrower or any of its properties wherein the validity of or the
         Borrower's right to use any patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret,
         right, permit, license, or any other form of intellectual property
         owned or held by the Borrower shall be contested, which action or
         proceeding is not diligently prosecuted in good faith by the Borrower
         in appropriate proceedings deemed by the Lender to be satisfactory; or

                  (m) Any event which, in the good-faith judgment of the Lender,
         constitutes or could reasonably be expected to constitute or result in
         a material adverse change in the financial condition or business
         operations of the Borrower;

then, and in any such event, and the continuance thereof, the Lender may, by
notice to the Borrower, (i) declare its obligation to make Advances to be
terminated, whereupon the same shall forthwith terminate, and (ii) declare the
principal balances of all Advances and the Note, all accrued but unpaid interest
thereon, and other amounts properly payable under this Agreement to be forthwith
due and payable, whereupon the principal balances of all Advances and the Note,
all such interest, and all such amounts shall become and be forthwith due and
payable, without presentment, demand, protest, or further notice of any kind,
all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower, (iii) take such other
actions as may be permitted under the Loan Documents, and (iv) exercise any and
all other remedies available under applicable law.

                                       34
<PAGE>   37

                                   ARTICLE VII
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         SECTION 7.01. Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision
of the Loan Documents, nor consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom,
shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed
by the Lender, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the
specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

         SECTION 7.02. Notices, Etc. Except as otherwise specifically provided
herein, all notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in
writing (including telegraphic communication) and mailed or telegraphed or
delivered, if to the Borrower, at its address at 6565 MacArthur Boulevard, Ste.
1050, Irving, Texas 75038-2461, Attention: Mr. Paul G. Vitek; if to the Lender,
at its address at 59 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, Attention: Credit
Department; or, as to each party, at such other address as shall be designated
by such party in a written notice to the other party. All such notices and
communications shall, when mailed or telegraphed, be effective when deposited in
the mails or delivered to the telegraph company, respectively, addressed as
aforesaid.

         SECTION 7.03. No Waiver; Remedies. No failure on the part of the Lender
to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right under any Loan Document shall
operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any
right under any Loan Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or
the exercise of any other right. The remedies provided in the Loan Documents are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies that may be available to the Lender

                                       35
<PAGE>   38

at law, in equity, or otherwise. No notice to or demand on the Borrower in any
case shall entitle the Borrower to any other or further notice or demand in
similar or other circumstances.

         SECTION 7.04. Costs, Expenses, and Taxes. (a) The Borrower agrees to
pay on demand all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by the Lender in
connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, filing, recording, and
administration of the Loan Documents and the other documents to be delivered
under the Loan Documents, including, without limitation, all fees and
out-of-pocket expenses of counsel for the Lender with respect thereto and with
respect to advising the Lender as to its rights and responsibilities under the
Loan Documents, and all costs and expenses, if any, in connection with the
enforcement of the Loan Documents and the other documents to be delivered under
the Loan Documents. In addition, the Borrower shall pay any and all stamp and
other taxes, excluding taxes imposed on net income and all income and franchise
taxes of the United States and any political subdivisions thereof (all such
non-excluded taxes being herein referred to as "Taxes") and fees, if any,
payable or determined to be payable in connection with the execution and
delivery of the Loan Documents and the other documents to be delivered under the
Loan Documents, and agrees to save the Lender harmless from and against any and
all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any delay by the Borrower in
paying or omission to pay such Taxes and fees.

         SECTION 7.05. Right of Set-off. Upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of any Event of Default, the Lender is hereby authorized at any time
and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and
apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or
final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by the Lender
to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the
obligations of

                                       36
<PAGE>   39

the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and the Note,
irrespective or whether or not the Lender shall have made any demand under this
Agreement or the Note and although such obligations may be unmatured. The Lender
agrees to use its best efforts to notify the Borrower promptly after any such
set-off and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not
affect the validity of such set-off and application. The rights of the Lender
under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including,
without limitation, other rights of set-off) which the Lender may have.

         SECTION 7.06. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the Borrower and the Lender, and their respective
successors and assigns, except that the Borrower shall not have the right to
assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written
consent of the Lender. The Lender may, with the Borrower's consent, such consent
not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, assign to one or more banks or
entities all or any part of, or may grant participations to one or more banks or
other entities in or to all or any part of, any Advance or Advances and the
Note, and to the extent of any such assignment or participation (unless
otherwise stated therein), the assignee or participant of such assignment or
participation shall have the same rights and benefits hereunder and under the
Note as it would have if it were the Lender hereunder.

         SECTION 7.07. Governing Law. The Loan Documents shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, except to the
extent any law, rule, or regulation of the federal government of the United
States of America may be applicable, in which case such federal law, rule, or
regulation shall govern and control; provided that the provisions of Chapter 346
of the Texas Finance Code shall not be applicable to this Agreement.

                                       37
<PAGE>   40

         SECTION 7.08 Merger of Agreements. THE LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE
FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY
EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES
HERETO. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date
first above written.

                                          CARBO CERAMICS INC.

ATTEST:

                                          By:
                                              ---------------------------------

                                              Print Name:
                                                          ---------------------
                                              Title:
                                                     --------------------------

                                          per pro BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.

                                          Print Name:
                                                      -------------------------
                                          Title:
                                                -------------------------------

                                       38
<PAGE>   41

                                   SCHEDULE I

                                   Litigation

         On April 26, 1999, the Company was served with a U.S. federal grand
jury subpoena requesting the production of documents in connection with an
investigation by the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice of
possible anti-competitive practices in the proppants industry.

<PAGE>   42

                                   SCHEDULE II

                                 Permitted Liens

         The following liens, security interests, and other charges and
encumbrances are expressly permitted under the terms of this Agreement, and the
amounts of such liens, security interests and other charges and encumbrances
described in (a), (b) and (c) below shall not exceed $500,000 in the aggregate
at any time during the term of this Agreement:

         (a) Statutory and Good Faith Deposits. (i) Pledges or deposits under
workmen's compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws, the Social Security
Act, or similar legislation, and (ii) deposits to secure public or statutory
obligations of Borrower, surety, customs, appeal, or performance bonds to which
Borrower is a party, or the payment of contested taxes or import duties of
Borrower, each made and maintained in the ordinary course of business;

         (b) Statutory Liens. (i) Any lien which is imposed by law, such as
those of carriers, warehousemen, and mechanics, if payment of the obligation
secured thereby is not yet due, or the validity or amount of which is being
contested by appropriate legal proceedings, or (ii) any lien for taxes,
assessments, or other governmental charges of levies not yet subject to
penalties for nonpayment or the validity or amount of which is being contested
by appropriate legal proceedings;

         (c) Minor Title Defects. Minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances,
easements, or reservations of, or rights of others for, sewers, electric lines,
telegraph and telephone lines, rights of way, and other similar purposes, or
zoning or other restrictions as to the use of any real property; provided that
all of the foregoing, in the aggregate, do not at any time materially detract
from the value of said property or materially impair the use of such property in
the operation of the business of Borrower.

         (d) Landlord's Liens. Security interests in favor of Cambridge/Las
Colinas Limited Partnership, as lessor, on personal property of the Borrower now
or hereafter attached or affixed to or used in or about the premises leased by
the said lessor to the Borrower, as lessee, at 6565 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite
1050, Irving, Texas 75038-2461.

         (e) Equipment. Security interests in (i) a used Caterpillar 938F Wheel
Loader in favor of Thompson Tractor Co., Inc., as described in that certain
UCC-1 Financing Statement filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Alabama on December 6, 1996, file No. 96-51148 and (ii) a new Caterpillar 928F
Wheel Loader in favor of Thompson Tractor Co., Inc., as described in that
certain UCC-1 Financing Statement filed with the Secretary of State of the State
of Alabama on February 24, 1997, file No. 97-07667.

<PAGE>   43

Exhibit A

                              REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE

U.S. $10,000,000                                       Dated: December 31, 2000

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, CARBO CERAMICS INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Borrower"), HEREBY PROMISES TO PAY to the order of BROWN
BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO., a New York limited partnership (the "Lender") the
principal amount of each Advance made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to
the Credit Agreement (as hereinafter defined). All terms not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings set forth for such terms in the Credit Agreement.

         The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of
each Advance from the date of such Advance until such principal amount is paid
in full, at such interest rate, and payable at such times, as are specified in
the Credit Agreement. In no event, however, shall the rate of interest charged
hereunder exceed the Maximum Rate.

         All agreements between the Borrower and the Lender, whether now
existing or hereafter arising and whether written for oral, are hereby expressly
limited so that in no event, whether by reason of acceleration of the maturity
hereof or otherwise, shall the amount paid or agreed to be paid to the holder
hereof for the use, forbearance or detention of the money to be loaned hereunder
or otherwise exceed the Maximum Rate. In fulfillment of any provision hereof or
of any loan agreement or other document evidencing or securing the loan
evidenced by this Note, at the time performance of such provision shall be due,
shall involve transcending the limit of validity prescribed by law, then, ipso
facto, the obligation to be fulfilled shall be reduced to the limit of such
validity; and if the holder of this Note shall ever receive anything of value
deemed to be interest under applicable law which would exceed interest at the
Maximum Rate, an amount equal to any such excessive interest shall be applied to
the reduction of the principal amount owing hereunder and not to the payment of
interest, or if such excessive interest exceeds the unpaid balance of principal
hereof, such excess shall be refunded to the Borrower. All sums paid or agreed
to be paid to the holder hereof for the use, forbearance, or detention of the
indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lender shall, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, be amortized, prorated, allocated, and spread throughout the
full term of such indebtedness until payment in full so that the rate of
interest of account of such indebtedness is uniform throughout the term thereof.
The provisions of this paragraph shall control all agreements between the
Borrower and the Lender.

         Both principal and interest are payable for the account of Borrower in
lawful money of the United States of America to the Lender at its offices at 59
Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, in same day funds. Each Advance made by
the Lender to the Borrower and the maturity thereof, and all payments made on
account of principal hereof, shall be recorded by the Lender and, prior to any
transfer hereof, either endorsed on the grid attached hereto which is part of
this Promissory Note or maintained in comparable form within the Lender's
internal books and records (which may be electronic).

<PAGE>   44

         The Borrower hereby affirms and certifies to the Lender that the
obligation evidenced by this note was not and will not be incurred for the
purposes of purchasing, carrying, or trading in securities, as defined in
Regulation T of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

         This Promissory Note is the Note referred to in, and is entitled to the
benefits of, the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of
December 31, 2000 (the "Credit Agreement") between the Borrower and the Lender.
The Credit Agreement, among other things, (i) provides for the making of
advances (the "Advances") by the Lender to the Borrower from time to time in an
aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the U.S. dollar amount
first above mentioned, the indebtedness of the Borrower resulting from each such
Advance being evidenced by this Promissory Note, and (ii) contains provisions
for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated
events and also for prepayments on account of principal hereof prior to the
maturity hereof upon the terms and conditions therein specified.

         This Promissory Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Texas, except to the extent any law, rule, or
regulation of the federal government of the United States of America may be
applicable, in which case such federal law, rule, or regulation shall govern and
control; provided that the provisions of Chapter 346 of the Texas Finance Code
shall not be applicable to this Promissory Note.

                                            CARBO CERAMICS INC.

ATTEST:

                                            By:
                                                -------------------------------
                                                Print Name:
                                                            -------------------
                                                Title:
                                                       ------------------------

<PAGE>   45

                       ADVANCES AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           Amount of        Unpaid
           Amount of       Principal       Principal       Notations
Date        Advance         Payment         Balance         Made By
----       ---------       ---------       ---------       ---------
<S>        <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>

</TABLE>

<PAGE>   46

Exhibit C

                             NO DEFAULT CERTIFICATE

         Pursuant to Section 5.01(f) of that certain Second Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement dated as of December 31, 2000 (the "Credit Agreement"), between
Carbo Ceramics Inc. (the "Borrower") and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (the
"Lender"), the undersigned, being the Treasurer of the Borrower, hereby
certifies to the Lender as follows:

         1. On and as of the date hereof, no event has occurred which
constitutes an Event of Default under the Credit Agreement or which, with the
giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of
Default under the Credit Agreement.

         2. As of the Borrower's fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2000, the
following statements were true:

                  (a)      The ratio of the Borrower's current assets to its
                           current liabilities was 5.29 to 1.0.

                  (b)      The Borrower's tangible net worth was $103,054,000.

                  (c)      The ratio of the Borrower's EBITDA to its Fixed
                           Charges, for the four (4) quarters ending on
                           September 30, 200 was 3.18 to 1.0.

                  (d)      The ratio of the Borrower's total Indebtedness to its
                           tangible net worth was N/A to 1.0.

         3. The amount of capital expenditures to the date hereof in the
Borrower's current fiscal year is $1,075,000. The amount of the Borrower's
EBITDA for the immediately preceding fiscal year was $20,895,000.

         All initially capitalized terms herein have the same meanings as set
forth in the Credit Agreement.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this instrument is executed by the undersigned as
of December 29, 2000.

                                                                  , Treasurer<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.11

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), made as of this ____ day of
January, 2001, by and between C. Mark Pearson, residing at
____________________________ (the "Executive"), and Carbo Ceramics Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company").

                                   WITNESSETH

         WHEREAS, the Company wishes to employ the Executive as President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Executive wishes to serve the
Company in such capacity.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the conditions and covenants set
forth herein, it is agreed as follows:

         1. Employment, Duties and Agreements.

         (a) The Company hereby employs the Executive, and the Executive hereby
agrees to be employed by the Company during the Term, as the Company's President
and Chief Executive Officer on the terms and conditions set forth herein. "Term"
shall mean the period commencing on April 10, 2001 (the "Effective Date") and
ending on December 31, 2002 (the "Scheduled Termination Date"); provided, that
the Term may be terminated prior to the Scheduled Termination Date in accordance
with Section 3 hereof. Upon the expiration of the Term on the Scheduled
Termination Date, the Executive's employment with the Company shall be at will.

         (b) The Executive shall have such responsibilities and duties as the
Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") may from time to time reasonably
determine consistent with the Executive's position as President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company. In rendering his services hereunder, the
Executive shall be subject to, and shall act in accordance with, all reasonable
instructions and directions of the Board and all applicable policies and rules
thereof. The Executive shall devote the Executive's full working time to the
performance of the Executive's responsibilities and duties hereunder. During the
Term, the Executive will not, without the prior written consent of the Board,
render services, whether or not compensated, to any other person or entity as an
employee, independent contractor, director or otherwise (other than as a
director of Pinnacle Technologies Inc. and as an adjunct professor at the
Colorado School of Mines); provided, however, that nothing herein shall restrict
the Executive from rendering services to not-for-profit organizations,
including, without limitation, any country club of which he is a member, or
managing the Executive's personal investments during the Executive's non-working
time.

         (c) During the Term, the Executive will not engage in any other
business affiliation with respect to any entity, including, without limitation,
the establishment of a proprietorship or the participation in a partnership or
joint venture, or acquire any equity interest in any entity (other than the
Company) if (i) such engagement or ownership would interfere with the full-time
performance of his responsibilities and duties hereunder or (ii) such entity is

<PAGE>   2

engaged in the business of production, supply or distribution of proppants used
in the hydraulic fracturing of natural gas and oil wells. The Executive
represents and warrants that, as of the Effective Date, the Executive will not
be engaged in any such business affiliation and will not own any such equity
interests.

         2. Compensation. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to
the following compensation.

         (a) The Company shall pay the Executive a base salary at the rate of
$200,000 per annum, payable in accordance with the Company's normal payroll
practices ("Base Salary"). The Board shall have the right to review the
Executive's performance and compensation from time to time and may, in its sole
discretion, increase his Base Salary based on such factors as the Board deems
appropriate.

         (b) The Executive will be paid an incentive bonus with respect to each
fiscal year during the Term equal to the sum of (i) 0.5% of the Company's
earnings before interest income and expense and taxes for such fiscal year
("EBIT") up to $20,000,000, plus (ii) 1.0% of EBIT in excess of $20,000,000
("Incentive Bonus"). The amount to be paid under this Section 2(b) with respect
to fiscal year 2001 shall be equal to the Incentive Bonus for such fiscal year
(calculated in accordance with the preceding sentence) multiplied by 266/365.
Any such Incentive Bonus shall be paid to the Executive as soon as practicable
and in any event within thirty (30) days after the completion of the audited
financial statements and determination of EBIT for such fiscal year.

         (c) The Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of paid vacation
during each calendar year of the Term in accordance with the Company's standard
vacation policy and practices; provided, that with respect to calendar year
2001, the Executive shall be entitled hereunder to paid vacation of four (4)
weeks minus the number of vacation days which he has taken during the period
commencing on January 1, 2001 and ending on the Effective Date. The Executive
shall take vacations only at such times as are consistent with reasonable
business needs of the Company.

         (d) The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable,
ordinary and necessary expenses incurred by the Executive in the performance of
the Executive's duties hereunder, provided that the Executive accounts to the
Company for such expenses in a manner reasonably prescribed by the Company.

         (e) The Executive shall be entitled to such benefits and perquisites as
are generally made available to senior executive officers of the Company,
provided that the Executive shall not be eligible to participate in the
Company's Incentive Compensation Plan.

         3. Early Termination of the Term. The Term shall terminate prior to the
Scheduled Termination Date upon the occurrence of any of the following events.

         (a) The Term and the Executive's employment hereunder shall terminate
upon written notice to the Executive by the Company specifying Disability as the
basis for such termination. In respect of such termination, the Company shall
pay to the Executive (i) within thirty (30) days after such termination, the
Executive's earned but unpaid Base Salary, earned but

                                       2
<PAGE>   3

unused vacation (determined in accordance with the Company's standard vacation
policy and practices) and reimbursement for expenses incurred (in accordance
with Section 2(d) hereof), all as of the date of such termination, and (ii) as
soon as practicable and in any event within thirty (30) days after the
completion of the audited financial statements and determination of EBIT for the
fiscal year in which such termination takes place, an amount equal to the
Incentive Bonus for such fiscal year (calculated in accordance with the first
sentence of Section 2(b)) multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is
the number of days in the period commencing on January 1 of the year in which
such termination takes place and ending on the date of such termination
(inclusive) and the denominator of which is 365. The Executive shall not be
entitled to any further compensation or payments hereunder. "Disability" shall
mean a physical or mental impairment of the Executive that (A) qualifies the
Executive for (x) disability benefits under any long-term disability plan
maintained by the Company or (y) Social Security disability benefits or (B) has
prevented or, at the date of determination, will reasonably be likely to
prevent, the Executive from performing the essential functions of his position
for a period of six (6) consecutive months. The existence of a Disability shall
be determined by the Board in its absolute discretion. The Executive agrees to
submit to medical examinations by a licensed medical doctor selected by the
Board to determine whether a Disability exists, as the Board may request from
time to time.

         (b) The Company may terminate the Term and the Executive's employment
hereunder for Cause. Termination for Cause shall be effective upon written
notice to the Executive by the Company specifying that such termination is for
Cause. In respect of such termination, the Company shall pay to the Executive,
within thirty (30) days after such termination, the Executive's earned but
unpaid Base Salary, earned but unused vacation (determined in accordance with
the Company's standard vacation policy and practices) and reimbursement for
expenses incurred (in accordance with Section 2(d) hereof), all as of the date
of such termination. The Executive shall not be entitled to any further
compensation or payments hereunder. "Cause" shall mean: (i) any material
violation by the Executive of this Agreement; (ii) any failure by the Executive
substantially to perform his duties hereunder; (iii) any act or omission
involving dishonesty, fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence on the part
of the Executive that is or may be materially injurious to the Company; and (iv)
any felony or other crime involving moral turpitude committed by the Executive.
If the basis for terminating the Executive's employment for Cause is the result
of a violation or failure described in clause (i) or (ii) of the foregoing
definition of "Cause" and the majority of the Board (excluding the Executive, if
he is a member of the Board) reasonably determines that such violation or
failure is capable of being remedied, the Board shall give the Executive thirty
(30) days' prior written notice of the Company's intent to terminate the
Executive's employment for Cause, which notice shall set forth the violation or
failure forming the basis for the determination to terminate the Executive's
employment for Cause. The Executive shall have the right to remedy such
violation or failure within a reasonable period of time (as determined by the
Board), provided that the Executive begins to take appropriate steps to remedy
such violation or failure within ten (10) days of the date of such written
notice and diligently prosecutes such efforts thereafter. The Term and the
Executive's employment hereunder may not be terminated for Cause unless a
majority of the Board (excluding the Executive, if he is a member of the Board)
finds in good faith that termination for Cause is justified and, if the basis
for terminating the Executive's employment for Cause arises as a result of a
violation or failure described in clause (i) or (ii) of the definition of
"Cause", that the violation or failure has not been remedied within

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

the period of time designated by the Board or that there is no reasonable
prospect that the Executive will remedy the violation or failure forming the
basis for terminating his employment for Cause.

         (c) The Term and the Executive's employment hereunder shall terminate
upon the death of the Executive. In respect of such termination, the Company
shall pay to the Executive's estate or any beneficiary previously designated by
the Executive in writing (a "Designated Beneficiary") (i) within thirty (30)
days after such termination, the Executive's earned but unpaid Base Salary,
earned but unused vacation (determined in accordance with the Company's standard
vacation policy and practices) and reimbursement for expenses incurred (in
accordance with Section 2(d) hereof), all as of the date of such termination,
and (ii) as soon as practicable and in any event within thirty (30) days after
the completion of the audited financial statements and determination of EBIT for
the fiscal year in which such termination takes place, an amount equal to the
Incentive Bonus for such fiscal year (calculated in accordance with the first
sentence of Section 2(b)) multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is
the number of days in the period commencing on January 1 of the year in which
such termination takes place and ending on the date of such termination
(inclusive) and the denominator of which is 365. The Executive, his estate and
his Designated Beneficiary shall not be entitled to any further compensation or
payments hereunder.

         (d) The Company may terminate the Term and the Executive's employment
hereunder at any time without Cause. Such termination without Cause shall be
effective upon written notice to the Executive from the Company of such
termination. In respect of such termination, the Company shall pay to the
Executive (i) within thirty (30) days after such termination, the Executive's
earned but unpaid Base Salary, earned but unused vacation (determined in
accordance with the Company's standard vacation policy and practices) and
reimbursement for expenses incurred (in accordance with Section 2(d) hereof),
all as of the date of such termination, and (ii) as soon as practicable and in
any event within thirty (30) days after the completion of the audited financial
statements and determination of EBIT for the fiscal year in which such
termination takes place, an amount equal to the Incentive Bonus for such fiscal
year (calculated in accordance with the first sentence of Section 2(b))
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the
period commencing on January 1 of the year in which such termination takes place
and ending on the date of such termination (inclusive) and the denominator of
which is 365. In addition, the Company shall continue to pay to the Executive
(or to the Executive's estate or Designated Beneficiary, if the Executive should
die during such two-year period) the Executive's Base Salary (at the level in
effect immediately preceding such termination) for two years following the date
of such termination of employment without Cause in accordance with the Company's
normal payroll practices. The Executive (or his estate or Designated
Beneficiary) shall not be entitled to any further compensation or payments
hereunder. No salary continuation payments made pursuant to this Section 3(d)
will constitute compensation for any purpose under any retirement plan or other
employee benefit plan, program, arrangement or agreement of the Company, and no
period during which such payments are made to the Executive pursuant to this
Section 3(d) shall constitute a period of employment with the Company for any
such purposes. In respect of such termination, all outstanding stock options
granted to the Executive by the Company pursuant to the Carbo Ceramics Inc. 1996
Stock Option Plan for Key Employees (the "Option Plan"), whether or not they
were exercisable at the time of such termination of employment without Cause,
shall become fully and

                                       4
<PAGE>   5

immediately exercisable and shall remain exercisable until the expiration of
thirty (30) days after such termination, on which date they shall expire;
provided, however, that no such stock option shall be exercisable after the
expiration of ten (10) years after the date such stock option was granted to the
Executive.

         (e) During the one-year period following a Change in Control of the
Company, the Company may terminate the Term and the Executive's employment
hereunder without Cause or the Executive may voluntarily terminate the Term and
his employment hereunder for Good Reason. Such termination shall be effective
upon written notice to the Executive from the Company or from the Executive to
the Company, as applicable, of such termination. In respect of such termination,
in lieu of all other amounts or benefits to which the Executive would be
entitled pursuant to any other provisions of Section 3 of this Agreement, the
Company shall pay to the Executive, within thirty (30) days after such
termination (i) the Executive's earned but unpaid Base Salary, earned but unused
vacation (determined in accordance with the Company's standard vacation policy
and practices) and reimbursement for expenses incurred (in accordance with
Section 2(d) hereof), all as of the date of such termination, (ii) an amount
equal to the Incentive Bonus with respect to the fiscal year immediately
preceding the fiscal year in which such termination takes place (calculated in
accordance with the first sentence of Section 2(b)) multiplied by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the number of days in the period commencing on January
1 of the year in which such termination takes place and ending on the date of
such termination (inclusive) and the denominator of which is 365 and (iii) an
amount equal to two times the Executive's Base Salary (at the rate in effect as
of the date of such termination). In respect of such termination, all
outstanding stock options granted to the Executive by the Company pursuant to
the Option Plan, whether or not they were exercisable at the time of such
termination of employment, shall become fully and immediately exercisable and
shall remain exercisable until the expiration of thirty (30) days after such
termination, on which date they shall expire; provided, however, that no such
stock option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after
the date such stock option was granted to the Executive.

         (f) For purposes of Section 3(e) hereof:

                  (1) "Change in Control" shall mean (i) the occurrence of a
         change in control of the Company of a nature that would be required to
         be reported or is reported in response to Item 1 of the current report
         on Form 8-K, as in effect on the Effective Date, pursuant to Sections
         13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
         "Exchange Act"); or (ii) any "Person" (as such term is used in Sections
         13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the "beneficial
         owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or
         indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30% or more of
         the combined voting power of the Company's outstanding securities
         (other than any Person who was a "beneficial owner" of securities of
         the Company representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of
         the Company's outstanding securities prior to the Effective Date); or
         (iii) individuals who constitute the Board on the Effective Date (the
         "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
         majority of the members of the Board, provided that any person becoming
         a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose appointment to fill a
         vacancy or to fill a new Board position was approved by a

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

         vote of at least three-quarters of the directors comprising the
         Incumbent Board, or whose nomination for election by the Company's
         shareholders was approved by the same nominating committee serving
         under an Incumbent Board, shall be, for purposes of this clause (iii),
         considered as though he were a member of the Incumbent Board; or (iv)
         the occurrence of any of the following of which the Incumbent Board
         does not approve (A) merger or consolidation in which the Company is
         not the surviving corporation or (B) sale of all or substantially all
         of the assets of the Company; or (v) stockholder approval pursuant to a
         proxy statement soliciting proxies from stockholders of the Company, by
         someone other than the then current management of the Company, of a
         plan of reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company with one
         or more corporations as a result of which the outstanding shares of the
         class of securities then subject to the plan of reorganization are
         exchanged or converted into cash or property or securities not issued
         by the Company.

                  (2) "Good Reason" shall mean, without the Executive's express
         written consent, the occurrence of any one or more of the following:
         (i) the assignment of the Executive to duties materially inconsistent
         with the Executive's authorities, duties, responsibilities and status
         (including offices, titles, and reporting requirements) as an officer
         of the Company, or a reduction or alteration in the nature or status of
         the Executive's authorities, duties, or responsibilities from those in
         effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, including a failure
         to reelect the Executive to, or a removal of him from, any office of
         the Company that the Executive held immediately prior to the Change in
         Control; or (ii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be based at a
         location more than 50 miles from Irving, Texas, except for required
         travel on the Company's business to an extent substantially consistent
         with the Executive's business obligations immediately prior to the
         Change in Control; or (iii) the Company materially breaches this
         Agreement or any other written agreement with the Executive; or (iv) a
         material reduction in the Executive's level of participation in any of
         the Company's welfare benefit, retirement or other employee benefit
         plans, policies, practices, or arrangements in which the Executive
         participates as of the date of the Change in Control.

         4. Restrictive Covenants.

         (a) The Executive agrees that all information pertaining to the prior,
current or contemplated business of the Company and its corporate affiliates,
and their officers, directors, employees, agents, shareholders and customers
(excluding (i) publicly available information (in substantially the form in
which it is publicly available) unless such information is publicly available by
reason of unauthorized disclosure by the Executive or by any person or entity of
whose intention to make such unauthorized disclosure the Executive is aware and
(ii) information of a general nature not pertaining exclusively to the Company
that generally would be acquired in similar employment with another company)
constitutes a valuable and confidential asset of the Company. Such information
includes, without limitation, information related to trade secrets, customer
lists, production techniques, and financial information of the Company. The
Executive agrees that he shall, during the Term and continuing thereafter, (A)

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

hold all such information in trust and confidence for the Company and its
corporate affiliates, and (B) not use or disclose any such information to any
person, firm, corporation or other entity other than under court order or other
legal or regulatory requirement.

         (b) Upon expiration of the Term and continuing for a period ending two
(2) years after the Executive's employment by the Company terminates for any
reason whatsoever, the Executive agrees that the Executive will not, directly or
indirectly, own, manage, operate, control, be employed by (whether as an
employee, consultant, independent contractor or otherwise, and whether or not
for compensation) or render services to any person, firm, corporation or other
entity, in whatever form, engaged in (i) the business of supply or distribution
of proppants used in the hydraulic fracturing of natural gas and oil wells
("Proppants") other than Baker Hughes Inc., BJ Services Company, Schlumberger
Limited, Halliburton Company and OSCA, Inc. or (ii) the business of production
of Proppants.

         (c) During the Term and continuing for a period ending twelve (12)
months after the Executive's employment terminates for any reason whatsoever,
the Executive agrees that the Executive will not, directly or indirectly,
individually or on behalf of other persons, solicit, aid or induce (i) then
remaining employees of the Company or its corporate affiliates to leave their
employment with the Company or its corporate affiliates in order to accept
employment with or render services to or with another person, firm, corporation
or other entity, or assist or aid any other person, firm, corporation or other
entity in identifying or hiring such employees or (ii) any customer of the
Company or its corporate affiliates who was a customer of the Company or its
corporate affiliates at any time during which the Executive was actively
employed by the Company to purchase products or services then sold by the
Company or its corporate affiliates from another person, firm, corporation or
other entity, or assist or aid any other person or entity in identifying or
soliciting any such customer.

         (d) Prior to agreeing to, or commencing to, act as an employee,
officer, director, trustee, principal, agent or other representative of any type
of business other than as an employee of the Company during the period in which
the non-competition agreement, as described in Section 4(b), applies, the
Executive shall (i) disclose such agreement in writing to the Company and (ii)
disclose to the other entity with which he proposes to act in such capacity, or
to the other principal together with whom he proposes to act as a principal, the
existence of this Agreement, including, in particular, the non-disclosure
agreement contained in Section 4(a), the non-competition agreement contained in
Section 4(b), and the non-solicitation agreement contained in Section 4(c).

         (e) With respect to the restrictive covenants set forth in Sections
4(a), 4(b) and 4(c), the Executive acknowledges and agrees as follows.

                  (i) The specified duration of a restrictive covenant shall be
         extended by and for the term of any period during which the Executive
         is in violation of such covenant.

                  (ii) The restrictive covenants are in addition to any rights
         the Company may have in law or at equity.

                                       7
<PAGE>   8

                  (iii) It is impossible to measure in money the damages which
         will accrue to the Company in the event that the Executive breaches any
         of the restrictive covenants. Therefore, if the Executive breaches any
         restrictive covenant, the Company and its corporate affiliates shall be
         entitled to an injunction restraining the Executive from violating such
         restrictive covenants. If the Company or any of its corporate
         affiliates shall institute any action or proceeding to enforce a
         restrictive covenant, the Executive hereby waives the claim or defense
         that the Company or any of its corporate affiliates has an adequate
         remedy at law and the Executive agrees not to assert in any such action
         or proceeding the claim or defense that the Company or any of its
         corporate affiliates has an adequate remedy at law. The foregoing shall
         not prejudice the Company's or its corporate affiliates' right to
         require the Executive to account for and pay over to the Company or its
         corporate affiliates, and the Executive hereby agrees to account for
         and pay over, the compensation, profits, monies, accruals or other
         benefits derived or received by the Executive as a result of any
         transaction constituting a breach of the restrictive covenants.

         (f) The restrictions in this Section 4 shall be in addition to any
restrictions imposed on the Executive by statute or at common law.

         5. Arbitration of Disputes.

         (a) Any disagreement, dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or the interpretation or validity hereof shall be
settled exclusively and finally by arbitration. It is specifically understood
and agreed that any disagreement, dispute or controversy which cannot be
resolved between the parties, including without limitation any matter relating
to interpretation of this Agreement, may be submitted to arbitration
irrespective of the magnitude thereof, the amount in controversy or whether such
disagreement, dispute or controversy would otherwise be considered justiciable
or ripe for resolution by a court or arbitral tribunal. Notwithstanding this
Section 5, the Company shall be entitled to institute a court action or
proceeding for injunctive relief as provided in Section 4 of this Agreement.

         (b) The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the
Commercial Arbitration Rules (the "Arbitration Rules") of the American
Arbitration Association ("AAA").

         (c) The arbitral tribunal shall consist of one arbitrator. The parties
to the arbitration jointly shall directly appoint such arbitrator within thirty
(30) days of initiation of the arbitration. If the parties shall fail to appoint
such arbitrator as provided above, such arbitrator shall be appointed by the AAA
as provided in the Arbitration Rules and shall be a person who (i) maintains his
principal place of business within thirty (30) miles of the City of Irving,
Texas and (ii) has substantial experience in executive compensation. The parties
shall each pay an equal portion of the fees, if any, and expenses of such
arbitrator.

         (d) The arbitration shall be conducted within thirty (30) miles of the
City of Irving, Texas or in such other city in the United States of America as
the parties to the dispute may designate by mutual written consent.

                                       8
<PAGE>   9

         (e) At any oral hearing of evidence in connection with the arbitration,
each party thereto or its legal counsel shall have the right to examine its
witnesses and to cross-examine the witnesses of any opposing party. No evidence
of any witness shall be presented unless the opposing party or parties shall
have the opportunity to cross-examine such witness, except as the parties to the
dispute otherwise agree in writing or except under extraordinary circumstances
where the interests of justice require a different procedure.

         (f) Any decision or award of the arbitral tribunal shall be final and
binding upon the parties to the arbitration proceeding. The parties hereto
hereby waive to the extent permitted by law any rights to appeal or to seek
review of such award by any court or tribunal.

         (g) Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to give the arbitral
tribunal any authority, power, or right to alter, change, amend, modify, add to
or subtract from any of the provisions of this Agreement.

         (h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the
arbitration provisions set forth in this Section 5 shall be governed exclusively
by the Federal Arbitration Act, Title 9, United States Code.

         6. Miscellaneous.

         (a) Each provision hereof is severable from this Agreement, and if one
or more provisions hereof are declared invalid the remaining provisions shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect. If any provision of this Agreement
is so broad, in scope or duration or otherwise, as to be unenforceable, such
provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

         (b) Any notice to be given hereunder shall be given in writing. Notice
shall be deemed to be given when delivered by hand to the party to whom notice
is being given, or ten (10) days after being mailed, postage prepaid, registered
with return receipt requested, or sent by facsimile transmission with a
confirmation by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid. Notices to the
Executive should be addressed to the Executive as follows:

         C. Mark Pearson
         c/o Carbo Ceramics Inc.
         6565 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 1050
         Irving, Texas  75039

Notices to the Company should be sent as follows:

         Carbo Ceramics Inc.
         6565 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 1050
         Irving, Texas  75039
         Attn: Secretary

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

with copies sent to:

         Cleary Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton
         One Liberty Plaza
         New York, NY 10006
         Attn:  Stephen H. Shalen, Esq.

         Either party may change the address or person to whom notices should be
sent to by notifying the other party in accordance with this Section 6(b).

         (c) The failure to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this
Agreement or to require at any time performance by the other party of any of the
provisions hereof shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions
or to affect the validity of this Agreement, or any part hereof, or the right of
either party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement.

         (d) This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties
with respect to the employment of the Executive by the Company after the
Effective Date and supersedes any and all prior understandings, agreements or
correspondence between the parties regarding such employment. It may not be
amended or extended in any respect except by a writing signed by both parties
hereto.

         (e) The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that each party has
reviewed and negotiated the terms and provisions of this Agreement and has
contributed to its preparation (with advice of counsel, if desired).
Accordingly, the rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are
resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation
of this Agreement. Rather, the terms of this Agreement shall be construed fairly
as to both parties hereto and not in favor of or against either party,
regardless of which party generally was responsible for the preparation of this
Agreement.

         (f) This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance
with, the laws of Texas, without reference to its principles of conflict of
laws.

         (g) This Agreement shall not be assignable by either party hereto
without the written consent of the other, provided, however, that the Company
may, without the written consent of the Executive, assign this Agreement to (i)
any entity with which the Company is merged or consolidated or to which the
Company transfers substantially all of its assets or (ii) any entity
controlling, under common control with or controlled by the Company.

         (h) This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the
same instrument.

         (i) The headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of
reference only and shall not be a part of or control or affect the meaning of
any provision hereof.

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be signed
by its duly authorized representative and the Executive has hereunto set his
hand as of the day and year first above written.

                                            CARBO CERAMICS INC.

                                            By:
                                                -------------------------------

                                            -----------------------------------
                                            C. Mark Pearson

                                       11

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