Dr. Cassady Harraden

Biography

Cassady Harraden is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean, Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. He is developing an interdisciplinary research program focused on sustainable resource development, integrating mineralogy, geochemistry, spectral geology, and engineering data to enhance orebody knowledge and optimize recovery of critical minerals. Drawing from deep industry experience and cutting-edge academic work, his research focuses on developing advanced analytical data fusion methods to identify critical mineral co-products, improve design, and reduce environmental impact. Collaborating with academia, government, and industry, he aims to mentor and train a new generation of geoscientists and engineers driving innovation in mining, processing, and community engagement for a low-carbon future. His recent postdoctoral research focused on the exploration and development of critical minerals, particularly on porphyry exploration vectoring in British Columbia, with a specific focus on mineralogy, mineral chemistry, and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) data. Prior to joining UBC, he spent four years at Corescan interpreting hyperspectral data and developing new geometallurgical and geotechnical applications for data collected using Corescan's automated core logging technology outputs. In 2018, he completed his PhD in geometallurgy at the CODES group at the University of Tasmania in Australia, focusing on developing methods for geotechnical rock mass and grain size assessment using multi-sensor systems and microanalytical methods.

Research Interests