Expertise in acid rock drainage prediction, mine site water quality modeling, water treatment, gold metallurgy, metal precipitation and biohydrometallurgy

Over 40 years experience in North and South America, Mexico, Europe and Africa

Recipient of Teck Resources Environmental Award in 2011  Details...

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Rick Lawrence is a consulting engineer internationally known for his work in acid rock drainage, mine site water quality, water treatment, metal precipitation, and the biooxidation of gold and base metal ores and concentrates. He has carried out projects in these fields in many parts of the world, including North and South America, Mexico, Europe and Africa.

Rick obtained a BSc with Honours (1970) in Mining Engineering and a PhD (1974) in Biohydrometallurgy from the University of Wales.  He is a Registered Professional Engineer in the Province of British Columbia and was formerly a Chartered Engineer and and a Fellow of the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy in the UK up to 2015.   Rick is conversant in Spanish.

Rick is the author and co-author of over 150 technical papers, including two patents, on biohydrometallurgy, water treatment, mine waste management, acid rock drainage, and the processing of refractory gold ores.   He was principal editor of book Fundamental and Applied Biohydrometallurgy; author of the Acid Rock Drainage Prediction Manual; author of two chapters in books on biohydrometallurgy and bioprocessing; author and co-author of published reports for MEND and other government agencies; author and co-author of over 300 technical reports on laboratory investigations, studies and consulting assignments performed for the mining industry, consulting firms and government agencies. 

His methods for geochemical characterization of mine wastes are used as standard procedures throughout the world.

In addition to being Principal of Lawrence Consulting Ltd since 1987, Rick has held a number of positions in industry, research and in academia, including:

BioteQ Environmental Technologies Inc., Vancouver, Canada, Executive Vice President, 2000-10; Senior Consultant, Evaluations and Development, 2010-11.

Simons Peru S.A. (now Amec Foster Wheeler), Lima Peru -  Regional Manager (Latin America), Mining Environment, 1998-2000.

University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada - Head, Department of Mining and Mineral Process Engineering, 1996-97; Associate Professor and Chair in Mining Environment, 1992-98; Adjunct Professor, 1998-current.

Lawrence Marchant (part of the Triton Group). Principal, 1991-92

Coastech Research Inc, North Vancouver, B.C., Canada,  Vice President (Technical), Director, and Principal, 1986-91

B.C. Research, Vancouver, Canada - Head, Division of Extractive Metallurgy, 1984-86; Senior Research Engineer, 1980-84

Sherritt Gordon Mines Ltd, Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada, Research Metallurgist, 1976-77

Rick was an Adjunct Professor in the Mining Engineering department at the University of British Columbia (now the Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering) from 2011 to 2016.  He was jointly responsible for the senior year capstone course on Mine and Plant Feasibility Design.  In 2015, he also taught the 3rd year undergraduate and graduate courses on the Processing of Precious Metals ores.