Thermoluminescence dating of partially bleached sediments

Abstract

A major problem in TL dating of sediments is the lack of knowledge concerning the degree of bleaching that took place during transport of the material prior to deposition. A method is proposed that may enable partially bleached sediments to be dated by determining the correct residual value to be used with the build-up curve. The method uses a combination of results for quartz and feldspar, presuming that these two minerals have the same age. Samples are bleached by sunlight for different periods, and the correct bleaching time is taken as that producing residual values which yield identical ages for the minerals. Preliminary results for a number of aeolian sediments from Jutland are presented. In most cases the TL ages were in acceptable agreement with expected ages.