W. Joseph Schlitt has more than 50 years of worldwide hydrometallurgical experience. His career has included work for both a large mining company and major engineering firms. He is now serving as a consulting metallurgist to the Minerals Industry and is a Qualified Professional (QP) member of The Mining & Metallurgical Society of America. Joe also has an advanced degree in metallurgy and is a licensed professional engineer.
His experience includes engineering, process assessments, research and development, and plant-oriented studies in the nonferrous industry. Primary emphasis is in hydrometallurgy and chemical processing, particularly copper heap, dump, bio-, and in situ leaching, plus metal value recovery. Additional experience covers other metals including uranium, cobalt, and precious metals. Joe has also done work on environmental control and assessment, comminution, electrolytic processing, and mining. Coverage includes new and existing operations, new mineral prospects, new technology, laboratory and pilot plant programs, and related areas such as plant start-ups, technology licensing, and contractor liaison.
Dr. Schlitt receiving the Milton E. Eadsworth Extractive Metallurgy Award at the 2010 SME Annual Meeting in Phoenix, AZ. The award caption reads “for his contributions that have advanced the science and technology of heap and dump leaching.”
Credentials
- Ph.D., Metallurgy (1968); Pennsylvania State University
- B.S., Metallurgical Engineering (1964); Carnegie Institute of Technology
- Qualified Professional member of The Mining & Metallurgical Society of America (No. 01003QP, with specialty in metallurgy)
- Registered Professional Engineer, Texas (No. 53603)
- Patents:
- U.S. No. 3,723,598 for SO2 removal
- U.S. No. 4,152142 for smelter slag processing