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CIM Distinguished Lecturers
Terence P. ("Terry") McNulty earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University in 1961, a Master of Science in Metallurgy from the Montana School of Mines in 1963, and a doctorate in metallurgical engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1967. He considers himself very fortunate to have been able to work as an analytical chemist before and during college and to have had jobs in industry during postgraduate studies. He is a registered professional engineer.
He was employed for 20 years by the Anaconda Company in various research, operating, and management positions, including five years as corporate manager, metallurgical research and technical support. He then served as vice president, technical operations for Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation for 3 years before joining Hazen Research, Inc., as president and CEO. In In 1988, he left Hazen and, with his wife, Carol, founded T. P. McNulty and Associates, Inc., a global consulting firm with as many as 24 associates, including metallurgists, chemical engineers, geologists, and mining engineers. He continued to serve on Hazen's board as an outside director and was chairman from 1996 until he retired from the board in 2005 and was reelected in 2024.
Terry has obtained two patents in copper metallurgy and has published over 51 technical papers and textbook and handbook chapters dealing with minerals processing and extractive metallurgy, process control, energy conservation, and technology development. He is a member of AIME (SME and TMS), CIM, MMSA, Mining Foundation of the Southwest, and the National Academy of Engineering, to which he was elected in 2005. He has served for several terms on the MFSW board of governors. He was awarded the Distinguished Career Achievement Medal by Colorado School of Mines in 1989 and served on the board of trustees of that school during 1989-1992. He was a Henry Krumb Memorial Lecturer for AIME in 1989 and served as an Accreditation Board Visitor for SME and TMS during 1985-1997. In 2002, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Montana Tech. In 2004, he received the Robert H. Richards Award "for distinction in mineral processing" from AIME.
Distinguished Lecturer 2025-26
McNulty ramp-up curves: An update and new perspectives
Lecture Abstract
This lecture is based on a presentation jointly prepared with Britt MacKinnon and Phillip Mackey for a keynote paper presented at Copper 2025. The McNulty Curve concept began with an SME paper in 1998 and this is the 4th update.
The Curves and their underlying criteria are a management tool that is used for assessing the probability of acceptable ramp-up times for new mineral industry projects. Many case histories have been contributed by mining, engineering, and investment firms. While most have been metallurgical plants, the principles also apply to geology and mining.
Few projects achieve design capacity within several months. About half require 3 to 12 months, while roughly 25% are still lagging after 3-5 years; the others fail or require major remedial investments. This lecture will present the reasons and discuss ways of preventing disappointments.
