Paul Conrad - Department of Mining Engineering

Paul Conrad

Professor
Mining & Geology Building (MG) 117C
406-496-4620
E-mail Paul Conrad

Biography

Paul has over 30 years of work experience in mining, civil, hydraulic, environmental, and construction engineering and in research and teaching. He has worked in coal and aggregate mines as both a supervisor and an equipment operator. His engineering experience includes extensive work in project design, permitting, hydraulic design, and construction monitoring, which works into the classes that he teaches.

Research Interests

  • Mine optimization
  • Mine reclamation
  • Environmental restoration
  • Tailings disposal

Career in Brief

  • Professor - Mining Engineering Department, Montana Tech (2003-present)
  • Research Asst. - Dept. of Mining Engineering, Univ. of Kentucky (1999-2002)
  • Lead Engineer - GAI Consultants, Inc. (1991-2000)
  • Hydraulic Engineer - PA Department of Transportation (1988-1991)
  • Engineer - Davis, Renn & Shrader, Inc. (1987-1988)
  • Engineer/Foreman - W.S. Frey Company, Inc. (1987)
  • Graduate Asst. - Dept. of Mineral Engineering, Penn State Univ. (1986-1987)
  • Civil Engineer - PA Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (1984-1986)
  • Construction Inspector - Erdman, Anthony & Associates, (1984)
  • Construction Inspector - L. Robert Kimball & Associates (1982-1984)
  • Underground Coal Miner - Eastern Associated Coal Corporation (1975-1977)

Courses Taught

  • Mining Methods
  • Unit Mining Operations
  • Aggregate Mine Design
  • Environmental Management and Design of Mines
  • Mine Design - Coal

Selected Publications

  • Wolf, J.F., P.W. Conrad, and J.N. Cogley, “Use of GPSS/H Simulation to Optimize Mine Development at a Surface Bentonite Operation”, International Journal of Mineral Resources Engineering, Vol. 13, No. 2, 2008, pp. 61-72.
  • Conrad, P., R. Sweigard, K. Hunt, D. Graves, C. Barton, and V. Badaker, “Long-Term Changes in Selected Spoil Characteristics on Reforested Surface-Mined Land”, Transactions 2008, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., Littleton, CO, 2008, pp. 75-80.
  • Roos, C.J., P.W. Conrad, and S.D. Rosenthal, “Estimating Excavator Teeth Consumption Rates”, Mining Engineering, Vol. 62, No. 8, 2010, pp. 45-51.
  • Hoover, J.L., P.W. Conrad, S. Parrow, S. Rosenthal, and J. Downey, “Forecasting Drill Bit Consumption in Surface Mine Production Drilling Operations”, Transactions 2012, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., Littleton, CO, 2012, pp. 414-421.
  • Stout, C.E., P.W. Conrad, C.S. Todd, S. Rosenthal, and P. Knudsen, “Simulation of a Large Multiple Pit Mining Operation using GPSS/H”, International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering, Vol. 4, No. 4, 2013, pp. 278-295.