Kenneth Hickey

Kenneth Hickey is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia (UBC), affiliated with the Faculty of Science. His research focuses on the genesis and exploration of mineral deposits, integrating geochemistry, geochronology, structural geology, and tectonics. He specializes in Carlin-type gold deposits, sediment-hosted copper systems, and hydrothermal fluid dynamics. Hickey holds a Ph.D. from James Cook University and has extensive field experience, particularly in Nevada, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.

Education: B.Sc. (Auckland University), M.Sc. (Auckland University), Ph.D. (James Cook University). Research interests include ore genesis, fluid-rock interaction, and the application of isotopic and geochemical tracers. He has supervised numerous graduate students and contributed to projects sponsored by Barrick Gold, Newmont, and others.

Teaching includes EOSC 328 (Field Geology), EOSC 331/424 (Mineral Deposits), and directs the UBC Okanagan Field School. His work emphasizes multidisciplinary approaches to understanding ore systems and developing exploration strategies.

Key projects involve the Wopmay Orogen, Redstone Copper Belt, and Carlin Trend gold deposits. He employs techniques like U-Pb geochronology, stable isotope analysis, and thermochronology to map fluid pathways and thermal anomalies linked to mineralization.

Publications span over 50 peer-reviewed articles, focusing on Carlin-type deposits, structural controls, and educational innovations in geoscience fieldwork.