A laboratory inter-comparison of quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) results

Abstract

In this study three sediment samples were used which came from two cave sites situated on the coast of Gibraltar, Gorham's Cave and Vanguard Cave. Both caves contain silts, sands and breccia deposits from the last interglacial through to the post-glacial period, from which beach sands were sampled for dating. The three sediment sample cores were each divided into two sub-samples, which were independently measured at McMaster University and Oxford University using quartz OSL. Similar sample preparation and measurement procedures were used at both laboratories, but different measurement equipment was employed in each. It was therefore hoped to identify any factors that may result in systematic differences between laboratories. The data showed very good agreement in results when a narrow wavelength band was used for stimulation, from either an argon-ion laser (514.5 nm) or a filtered halogen lamp (514±17 nm). This indicates that slight differences in factors such as laboratory lighting, measurement time, additive dose levels, detection filters, stimulation source and power did not produce differences in results. However, when a wide wavelength band from the halogen lamp was used for stimulation (440–560 nm) significantly different results were obtained, suggesting care needs to be taken with the waveband used.