Margaret Forster

Margaret Forster serves as Associate Professor and Academic Manager of the Argon Laboratory within the Research School of Earth Sciences at The Australian National University. She directs the National Argon Map project (AuScope/ANU) and contributes as a MinEx CRC researcher, maintaining active laboratory leadership since 2013.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Earth Sciences, Monash University (2003)
• M.Sc. Level I (Hons. HI Equivalent), Monash University (1996)
• B.Sc. in Earth Sciences, Monash University (1994)

Research Focus: Specializing in Argon Geochronology and Structural Geology, Forster develops methodologies to date deformation/metamorphic events and reconstruct thermal histories. Her work integrates Ar/Ar geochronology with structural analysis across diverse settings including the Himalayas, SE Asia, European Alps, and Australian lithosphere, examining shear zones, terrane evolution, and fluid-alteration systems.

Research Trends: Recent publications (2023-2024) demonstrate methodological innovation in dating alunite, muscovite, and glauconite, applied to Himalayan tectonics, epithermal gold systems, and sediment provenance. Her work increasingly bridges geochronology with mineral exploration and crustal evolution studies.

Scientific Recognition:

• ARC Australian Research Fellowship (2008-2013)
• ARC Australian Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2004-2008)

Research Leadership: As Principal Investigator, Forster directs multiple projects including MinEx CRC Project 7 (2022-2024), National Argon Map development, and fluid-flow studies in Mount Isa orebodies. Current projects (2021-2025) focus on mineral system dating, metallogenesis barcoding, and spectrometer optimization.

Facilities: She manages ANU's Argon Laboratory (argon.anu.edu.au), a key geochronology facility supporting national and international research through the AuScope infrastructure.