I’m an award-winning, board-certified geotechnical engineer with more than four decades of experience with engineering, project management, design and construction, analysis, and site investigations of mining-related work, including numerous plant-site projects. I’ve participated in all geotechnical aspects associated with the design of tailings and heap leach facilities and have carried out numerous other geotechnical design efforts, including direct involvement with over 50 geotechnical site investigations. Many consider me to be an expert in several fields, including the use and interpretation of in situ tests and the propensity for static and earthquake-induced liquefaction.
I was on the organizing committee for South Africa’s first major conference on heap leaching and initiated the Elko Roundtable Discussion seminar series in Nevada, the proceeding of which has been published several times in Mining Engineering Magazine. I’ve received awards from both universities from which I graduated and also serve on the Minerals Engineering department’s Industrial Advisory Board for the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. I’ve served on the organizing committee for the annual Tailings and Mine Waste conference and am a charter member of the ASDSO Tailings Dam Regulatory Committee. In addition, I was the official book reviewer of the first proceeding of AGC’s Conference on Mine Closure and have authored more than three dozen technical articles and papers.
In 2020 I began my sole-proprietorship, Bryan Ulrich LLC – Tailings Solutions, providing my clients throughout the world with services ranging from third-party reviews, participation on independent review panels, geotechnical support, due diligence and litigation assistance. I also contribute to the industry through my podcast (Behind the Scenes with Bryan) and my blog (www.bryanulrich.net/blog).
EDUCATION
PhD, Minerals Engineering (underway), New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, USA (dissertation topic: Liquefaction Potential of Unsaturated Tailings).
1996, M.Eng., Geotechnical Engineering, University of Alberta, Canada (MEng. Report: On the use of CPT Data to Estimate the SPT Blow Count, completed under the direction of Prof. P. K. Robertson).
1985, B.Sc., Geological Engineering, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, USA.
1983, B.Sc., Mining Engineering, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, USA.
REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATIONS/TRAINING/AFFILIATION
Nevada, USA., No. 16933
Colorado, USA., No. 32886
Montana, USA., No. 25260
Idaho, USA., No. 15013
Wyoming, USA., No. 13474
SME Registered Member, No. R03292350
Professional Mining Engineer, South Africa, No. 20000191
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
2005 Recipient of Alumni Excellence Award: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
2008 Recipient of Distinguished Achievement Award: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, New Mexico.