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 "title": "J. Brent Hiskey",
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 "excerpt": "J. Brent Hiskey is an American hydrometallurgist and Professor Emeritus of Mining and Geological Engineering at the University of Arizona, elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1997.",
 "snippet": "J. Brent Hiskey is an American hydrometallurgist and Professor Emeritus of Mining and Geological Engineering at the University of Arizona, elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1997.",
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 "markdown": "# J. Brent Hiskey\n\nJ. Brent Hiskey is a hydrometallurgist, Professor Emeritus of Mining and Geological Engineering and holder of the Cimetta Chair in the College of Engineering at the [University of Arizona](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-arizona), who was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1997.\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Field | Hydrometallurgy: leaching, solvent extraction, electrochemistry of ore minerals |\n| Institution | University of Arizona, School of Mining Engineering & Mineral Resources (joined 1984) |\n| Education | BS (1967), MS (1971), PhD (1973), University of Utah |\n| NAE membership | Class of 1997 |\n| Major awards | AIME James Douglas Gold Medal (1993); SME Wadsworth Award (2003); SME Distinguished Member (1994) |\n| Late-career work | \"Chalcopyrite leaching in novel lixiviants\" (Hydrometallurgy, 2021) |\n\n## Education and Career\n\nHiskey earned a BS in metallurgical engineering in 1967, an MS in 1971, and a PhD in 1973, all from the [University of Utah](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-utah).<sup>[1](https://profiles.arizona.edu/person/jbh)</sup>\n\nBefore his academic career he held industrial research positions with [U.S. Steel](https://www.edgepedia.org/u-s-steel) and ALCOA in Pittsburgh, and was an Assistant Professor of Metallurgical Engineering at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.<sup>[2](https://aimehq.org/what-we-do/awards/aime-james-douglas-gold-medal/j-brent-hiskey)</sup> Prior to joining the University of Arizona in 1984, he was manager of metallurgical research at Kennecott's Process Technology Center.<sup>[1](https://profiles.arizona.edu/person/jbh)</sup>\n\nAt Arizona he served as Associate Dean for Research and Administration in the College of Engineering from 1999 to 2009,<sup>[1](https://profiles.arizona.edu/person/jbh)</sup> and earlier, at the time of his 1993 Gold Medal, he was Director of the Arizona Mining and Mineral Resources Research Institute and Professor of Materials Science and Engineering.<sup>[2](https://aimehq.org/what-we-do/awards/aime-james-douglas-gold-medal/j-brent-hiskey)</sup> He is now listed by the School of Mining Engineering & Mineral Resources as Professor Emeritus and a Member of the National Academy of Engineering.<sup>[3](https://mining.arizona.edu/faculty-staff/faculty/j-brent-hiskey)</sup>\n\n## Research and Contributions\n\nHis research lies in hydrometallurgy, the extraction of metals from ores using aqueous solutions rather than smelting. His special interest is the electrochemical nature of leaching reactions, especially the electrochemistry of semiconducting ore minerals.<sup>[2](https://aimehq.org/what-we-do/awards/aime-james-douglas-gold-medal/j-brent-hiskey)</sup> This work applies to heap leaching of precious metals and to dump and in-situ leaching of copper, processes in which dilute solutions percolate through ore to dissolve metal without mining and milling the whole rock mass.<sup>[2](https://aimehq.org/what-we-do/awards/aime-james-douglas-gold-medal/j-brent-hiskey)</sup> He has also worked on cementation, ion exchange, solvent extraction, and electrochemical processes, including recovery of critical metals from copper leach solution and gold and silver leaching.<sup>[1](https://profiles.arizona.edu/person/jbh)</sup>\n\nHe authored a review whose topics include leaching, chloride systems, complex sulfides, biotechnology, solvent extraction, ion exchange, selective precipitation, solution mining, and precious metals, alongside fundamentals of electrochemistry, thermodynamics, and solution chemistry.<sup>[4](https://experts.arizona.edu/en/publications/technical-developments-in-hydrometallurgy/)</sup>\n\n## Key Publications\n\n- **Solvent extraction characteristics of thiosubstituted organophosphinic acid extractants** (Hydrometallurgy, 1992, with Kathryn C. Sole), his most cited paper at 178 indexed citations.<sup>[6](https://www.rankless.org/authors/j-brent-hiskey)</sup>\n- **Dissolution Chemistry of Gold and Silver in Different Lixiviants** (Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review, 1988, with V. Atluri),<sup>[6](https://www.rankless.org/authors/j-brent-hiskey)</sup>\n- **Chalcopyrite leaching in novel lixiviants** (Hydrometallurgy, 2021, with Isabel Barton, 53 indexed citations),<sup>[6](https://www.rankless.org/authors/j-brent-hiskey)</sup> showing active research output into his later career.\n\nHe edited the 1993 SME/TMS volume *Hydrometallurgy: Fundamentals, Technology and Innovation*, and authored *Innovative Strategies for Copper Hydrometallurgy* (SME, 2013).<sup>[1](https://profiles.arizona.edu/person/jbh)</sup>\n\n## Honors and Professional Service\n\nHis honors trace the arc of his career: the SME Arthur F. Taggart Award in 1974;<sup>[1](https://profiles.arizona.edu/person/jbh)</sup> the AIME James Douglas Gold Medal in 1993, cited \"For his research and teaching contributions to chemical metallurgy with an emphasis on copper leaching and extraction of precious metals from refractory ores\";<sup>[2](https://aimehq.org/what-we-do/awards/aime-james-douglas-gold-medal/j-brent-hiskey)</sup> election as a Distinguished Member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and [Exploration](https://www.edgepedia.org/exploration) (SME) in 1994;<sup>[1](https://profiles.arizona.edu/person/jbh)</sup> election to the National Academy of Engineering in the Class of 1997;<sup>[1](https://profiles.arizona.edu/person/jbh)</sup> the SME Milton E. Wadsworth Extractive Metallurgy Award in 2003;<sup>[1](https://profiles.arizona.edu/person/jbh)</sup> and designation as Henry Krumb Lecturer of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers for 2005–2006.<sup>[1](https://profiles.arizona.edu/person/jbh)</sup>\n\nIn professional service, he was among the presenters of the TMS 1999 Annual Meeting short course \"Leaching: Fundamentals and Industrial Practice\" (February 27–28, 1999), alongside Christopher Fleming, David Dreisinger, and others.<sup>[5](https://www.tms.org/Meetings/Annual-99/ShortCourses/Leaching.html)</sup>\n\n## Legacy\n\nHis continued publication into the 2020s, notably the 2021 chalcopyrite work with Isabel Barton, shows active research output late in his career.<sup>[6](https://www.rankless.org/authors/j-brent-hiskey)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [J Brent Hiskey | UA Profiles](https://profiles.arizona.edu/person/jbh)\n2. [J. Brent Hiskey | AIME — James Douglas Gold Medal](https://aimehq.org/what-we-do/awards/aime-james-douglas-gold-medal/j-brent-hiskey)\n3. [J. Brent Hiskey | School of Mining Engineering & Mineral Resources](https://mining.arizona.edu/faculty-staff/faculty/j-brent-hiskey)\n4. [Technical Developments in Hydrometallurgy | University of Arizona Experts](https://experts.arizona.edu/en/publications/technical-developments-in-hydrometallurgy/)\n5. [1999 TMS Annual Meeting: Short Course — Leaching](https://www.tms.org/Meetings/Annual-99/ShortCourses/Leaching.html)\n6. [J. Brent Hiskey | Rankless](https://www.rankless.org/authors/j-brent-hiskey)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Technology and the built world › Engineers and computer scientists › Engineers and materials scientists › Mining and metallurgical engineers*\n\n*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "speakable": "J. Brent Hiskey is an American hydrometallurgist and Professor Emeritus of Mining and Geological Engineering at the University of Arizona, elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1997."
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