Natural Optically Stimulated Luminescence Research Articles

OSL dating of very young aeolian sediments of NW Spain to assess dune erosion and accretion periods

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages of young coastal dune ridges have allowed getting more knowledge on the deposition, erosion and evolution of coastal dune systems in Northern Europe during historical times. However, there is a lack of knowledge of the evolution of the same systems in SW Europe. The studies published in the last years about fossil dunes in NW Spain have allowed the reconstruction of the coastal evolution of this area from the Marine Isotopic Stage (MIS 8) until the Middle Holocene. However, there is still a poor knowledge for the Late Holocene and namely the last centuries. Dating young sediments is challenging due to the low signal to noise ratio of the natural OSL signal and because young samples are very sensitive to thermal transfer or partial bleaching of the luminescence signal during transport. In the last century, erosion and accretion events are better known because remote sensing methods allowed to model some coastal dune systems. However, OSL dating has also been particularly useful in NW Europe to get a better knowledge on the coastal dune evolution. In this work, seven samples from dune ridges and a climbing dune of a coastal system in Playa de Trece (NW Spain) were dated by OSL, as they record the last accretion events occurred in the last two centuries, and above all the 20th Century. For assessing the ages we have compared the results from both parametric central age models and Bayesian statistic using R package BayLum.

Towards the optically stimulated luminescence dating of unheated flint

Flint tools are important archaeological finds, but unheated specimens remain challenging to date. The optical luminescence properties of the microcrystalline flint differ from sedimentary quartz grains, and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) has, therefore, only occasionally been used to date heated flint specimens. However, if OSL dating could be used on unheated samples, this should expand the number of dateable flint samples from the archaeological record. This study investigates the luminescence sensitivity to blue, green, and infrared stimulation in flints collected from four sites in eastern Denmark. While stimulations at each wavelength yielded some luminescence emissions, blue OSL provided the strongest emission, and subsequent investigations here focus on measurements using this signal. The shape of the decay curves and the photo-ionising cross-sections for the blue OSL signal components are similar between natural and irradiated OSL and are also comparable to decay curves from calibration quartz. Dose–response curves show characteristic doses of ∽400 Gy, and dose recovery tests demonstrate that a SAR protocol can recover laboratory doses. The measured laboratory fading rates are considerable, where flint slices stored for up to six weeks provide average g-values of up to 9 % per decade. Also, the flint is less thermally stable compared to calibration quartz. However, a natural OSL signal remains in Cretaceous flints (albeit at 50 % or less of laboratory saturation), showing that signal loss did not outpace the electron trapping rate. The presence of a dose-dependent, natural OSL signal and acceptable dose recovery indicate that optical dating of flint surfaces could be feasible, at least in the flints from eastern Denmark, and that flint from other regions should be investigated.

The build-up of the laboratory-generated dose-response curve and underestimation of equivalent dose for quartz OSL in the high dose region: A critical modelling study

The application of a regeneration procedure for optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating requires that the dose-response curve (DRC) of a natural sample is the same as that of a laboratory-generated one. However, the build-up of the laboratory-generated DRCs of quartz has been widely reported in the literature, i.e., the laboratory-generated DRCs are significantly higher than the natural counterparts in the high dose region (above 150 or 200 Gy). This results in severe underestimation of equivalent dose (D e ) for quartz OSL in the high dose region during the application of a single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol. However, the potential mechanism governing the build-up of the laboratory-generated DRC is still unclear. In this study, we performed a comprehensive investigation of the natural and laboratory-generated OSL signals and DRCs using a kinetic model for quartz. We compared the differences in charge concentrations between natural and laboratory-irradiated aliquots following irradiation and monitored the competition for holes and electrons during preheat and stimulation, for the natural, regenerative, and test dose cycles. In the course of the modelling, we could see the build-up of laboratory-generated DRCs, the underestimation of D e , and a double exponential saturation characteristic of the DRCs. We demonstrated a discrepancy in competition for electrons in the deep electron trap and recombination centres during stimulation between the natural, regenerative, and test dose cycles. The simulation results are directly relevant to quartz OSL D e determination using the SAR protocol and reveal the mechanisms responsible for the experimentally observed different behaviours between natural and laboratory-generated DRCs.

Quartz OSL and polymineral post IR–IRSL dating of the Požarevac loess–palaeosol sequence in north–eastern Serbia

In this study we present a luminescence investigation of samples from the Požarevac loess–palaeosol sequence (LPS) in north–eastern Serbia. The pIRIR 290 signal displayed a generally good behaviour and yielded stratigraphically consistent D e values. The pIRIR 290 ages show very good agreement (within uncertainty) with the expected stratigraphic ages up to about 260 ka. The analyses of the 4–11 μm quartz extracts were performed in order to determine their applicability for luminescence dating. The optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) measurements showed that the fine–grained quartz systematically underestimates the expected equivalent doses for all measured samples. A comparison between natural and laboratory dose response curve showed no overlapping, not even in the lower dose range. Linear modulated –OSL analysis revealed large differences between individual samples where some quartz extracts displayed a different number of components and varying contribution of the fast component. The quartz OSL also shows thermal instability as demonstrated by pulse annealing experiments and thermal fading. For these reasons we do not consider the fine–grained quartz from the Požarevac LPS as a reliable dosimeter. • We investigate the applicability of the 4–11 μm quartz and polyminerals for luminescence dating. • The laboratory and natural OSL growth curves show no overlapping, not even in the lower dose range. • LM–OSL analysis showed large differences between samples and a varying fast component. • Large g 2days values for quartz extracts present a real feature, probably caused by thermal fading. • The pIRIR 290 ages show a very good agreement with the expected stratigraphic ages.

Extending the age limit of quartz OSL dating of Chinese loess using a new multiple-aliquot regenerative-dose (MAR) protocol with carefully selected preheat conditions

Abstract Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating on quartz is well established following the introduction of the Single-Aliquot Regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol. Despite its widespread use, it has a major drawback in frequently underestimating the age of samples with equivalent dose (De) larger than ~120 Gy. In this study, we investigate fine-grained quartz extracted from Chinese loess with fairly well known ages. For these samples, we determined that the Des obtained using the standard SAR protocol (i.e., with preheat and cut-heat temperatures of 260 °C and 220 °C respectively) significantly underestimated the expected burial doses larger than 100 Gy. The dependence of OSL intensity on preheating conditions was investigated using both natural and bleached aliquots. Both the natural and regenerative OSL intensities increase with the preheat temperature to a maximum at ~260 °C and decrease afterwards. However, the regenerated OSL intensity demonstrates a greater variability compared to the natural one. This difference in variability could not be corrected by the test dose OSL responses when a standard SAR protocol was used. A simple multiple-aliquot regenerative-dose (MAR) protocol with a carefully selected preheating condition can resolve the problem of inadequate sensitivity correction between the natural and subsequent regenerative cycles. The growth of the MAR dose-response curve (DRC) was in good agreement with the sensitivity-corrected natural OSL signals up to ~340 Gy, which extends the upper age limit of quartz OSL samples of Chinese loess back to at least 110 ka.

Luminescence chronology and lithic technology of Tianhuadong Cave, an early Upper Pleistocene Paleolithic site in southwest China

AbstractTianhuadong is a cave site located in the northwest of Yunnan Province, China. Since 2010, several surveys and one test excavation have yielded more than 1000 stone artifacts. The lithic assemblage shows some features of Levallois and Quina technologies, similar to those found in Middle Paleolithic sites in the Western Hemisphere. In this study, we summarize the lithic industry and propose a reliable chronology for the site using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of individual quartz grains extracted from sediments. We applied the standardized growth curve method to deal with the problem associated with the saturation in natural OSL signals in quartz. Our dating results yielded ages of 90–40 ka, suggesting that the associated lithic assemblage could be assigned to Marine Oxygen Isotope Stages 5 and 4 and could potentially represent Middle Paleolithic technologies. Because the number of Middle Paleolithic sites in southwest China is small, this site provides one of the few traces of human occupation in southwest China during the early upper Pleistocene. Thus, it is important for understanding hominin evolution and dispersal in this region.

Testing Luminescence Dating Methods for Small Samples from Very Young Fluvial Deposits

The impetus behind this study is to understand the sedimentological dynamics of very young fluvial systems in the Amazon River catchment and relate these to land use change and modern analogue studies of tidal rhythmites in the geologic record. Initial quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating feasibility studies have concentrated on spit and bar deposits in the Rio Tapajós. Many of these features have an appearance of freshly deposited pristine sand, and these observations and information from anecdotal evidence and LandSat imagery suggest an apparent decadal stability. The characteristics of OSL from small (~5 cm) sub-samples from ~65 cm by ~2 cm diameter vertical cores are quite remarkable. Signals from medium-sized aliquots (5 mm diameter) exhibit very high specific luminescence sensitivity, have excellent dose recovery and recycling, essentially independent of preheat, and show minimal heat transfer even at the highest preheats. These characteristics enable measurement of very small signals with reasonable precision and, using modified single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) approaches, equivalent doses as low as ~4 mGy can be obtained. Significant recuperation is observed for samples from two of the study sites and, in these instances, either the acceptance threshold was increased or growth curves were forced through the origin; recuperation is considered most likely to be a measurement artefact given the very small size of natural signals. Dose rates calculated from combined inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry/inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-MS/ICP-OES) and high-resolution gamma spectrometry range from ~0.3 to 0.5 mGya−1, and OSL ages for features so far investigated range from 13 to 34 years to several 100 years. Sampled sands are rich in quartz and yields of 212–250 μm or 250–310 μm grains indicate high-resolution sampling at 1–2 cm intervals is possible. Despite the use of medium-sized aliquots to ensure the recovery of very dim natural OSL signals, these results demonstrate the potential of OSL for studying very young active fluvial processes in these settings.

Changes in the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) sensitivity of single grains of quartz during the measurement of natural OSL: Implications for the reliability of optical ages

Abstract Single Aliquot Regeneration (SAR) protocol has been routinely used to estimate palaeodose for sediment samples. However, it was observed that significant changes in the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) sensitivity occur during read out of the natural OSL and that the current SAR protocol does not take into account these changes (Singhvi et al., 2011). It was suggested that if not corrected, this change of OSL sensitivity would lead to substantive systematic offsets in ages based on the conventional SAR protocol. To circumvent this issue of sensitivity change of OSL, a natural correction factor based SAR (NCF-SAR) measurement protocol and a correction procedure was suggested by Singhvi et al. (2011) with an implicit but a reasonable assumption that the sensitivity of 110 °C TL peak of quartz correlates with the OSL sensitivity. Use of this correction resulted in reduced over-dispersion in paleodoses and additionally provided a satisfactory way to deal with samples, where natural signal was significantly higher than the saturation value of the regenerated signal. As a logical extension of this work, similar sensitivity changes in the OSL from single grains of quartz were examined and, their impact on the accuracy and reliability of single grain based SAR ages is discussed in this contribution. About ∼200 single grains each from 9 samples of diverse depositional environments were analysed and the NCF of each grain was measured. The single grain NCF’ [=(1/NCF)] values varied from 0.7 to 20. Of these ∼50% grains had sensitivity changes in the range of 0.7–1.3. The results indicated that, 1) the brighter grains (photon counts > 1000 c/s in a standard Risoe reader) had NCF′ closer to 1, though significant outliers did exist, 2) the distribution of NCF′ was positively skewed with significant number of values greater than one and, 3) the averaged single grain and multigrain NCF’ values were different, suggesting that in the case of multigrain aliquots, sensitivity changes of dim grains, on account of their larger numbers, collectively contributed significantly to the light sum in OSL.

Historical (Yuan Dynasty) Earthquake on the North Danghe Nanshan Thrust, Western Qilian Shan, China

Abstract Historical archives of earthquake occurrence provide a millennial view of fault system behavior with precision beyond the capability of radiometric dating techniques. Understanding the long historical record of earthquake activity in China presents a great opportunity to develop such an archive. However, the complex distributed nature of faulting here leads to uncertainty and requires matching historic events to the paleoseismic record from fault excavations. We present paleoseismic evidence for the most recent rupture of the north Danghe Nanshan thrust (NDNT) and correlate the age of this event to nearby historical archives. We use high‐resolution topography generated from airborne drone photography to measure an average coseismic fault throw of 0.8±0.2 m. Three trenches excavated across these small scarps show shortening of ∼1.3 m, consistent with event magnitude of M w 7.0±0.5 that probably ruptured the entire ∼45‐km‐long northern strand of the eastern NDNT system. Geochronology data and the historical record from Dunhuang and Anxi together indicate that this event likely occurred at A.D. 1289, during the Yuan Dynasty. Electronic Supplement: Description of the test procedure of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) samples, and figure showing natural OSL decay curve, growth curves, and equivalent dose (De) distributions.

OSL dating of the AD 869 Jogan tsunami deposit, northeastern Japan

Sediments deposited by the AD 869 Jogan tsunami offer an opportunity to test the reliability of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of relatively old historical tsunami deposits. We collected a geoslicer sample from sand deposited on the Sendai Plain, northeastern Japan, by the Jogan tsunami and applied quartz OSL dating to it. We then compared the OSL ages with the known age of the tsunami event. In ascending order, the sedimentary sequence in the geoslicer sample consists of the beach–dune sand, lower peat, Jogan tsunami deposit, upper peat, pre-2011 paddy soil, and the 2011 tsunami deposit. To obtain equivalent dose (De,bulk), a standard single-aliquot renegerative-dose (SAR) protocol was applied to large aliquots of the 180–250 μm fraction of two samples from the beach–dune sand, and four samples from differing levels of the Jogan tsunami deposit. The OSL decay curves were dominated by the medium component; thus, for two samples from the Jogan deposit the fast-component OSL signal was isolated and used to determine the equivalent dose (De,fast). Using De,bulk, OSL ages of the tsunami deposit were underestimated by ∼40%, and even the beach–dune sand was dated younger than AD 869. In contrast, De,fast provided a robust age estimate with only slight underestimation. A pulse annealing test showed that the bulk and medium-component OSL signals were thermally unstable. The medium component in the natural OSL was clearly truncated in comparison to the regenerated OSL; the medium component is thus considered to be the main cause of the underestimated ages. Similar effects of a dominant medium-component OSL have been reported in tectonically active regions, which are also prone to tsunamis. The effect of this dominance should be carefully considered in quartz OSL dating of tsunami deposits.

Application of newly developed NCF-SAR protocol to Quaternary sediments from Suncheon and Jeongok, South Korea

Present study is an attempt to test the applicability of recently developed natural sensitivity corrected single aliquot regeneration (NCF-SAR) protocol for samples from archaeological sites of South Korea. The protocol monitors the sensitivity change during measurement of natural OSL (Optically Stimulated Luminescence) signal and provides a methodology to correct for it. The natural OSL signals in the quartz samples from Suncheon (fluvial) and Jeongok (aeolian) sites were either in dose saturation region or lying well above the luminescence dose response curve, suggesting the possibility of sensitivity changes during natural OSL signal measurements. These samples thus provide opportunity to test the NCF-SAR protocol. The results suggest that, for the samples examined in this study, there are significant sensitivity changes during the natural OSL signal measurements. The ratio of TL (Thermoluminescence) peaks before and after natural OSL measurement was used to correct for the sensitivity changes. The dose distribution obtained using NCF had less scatter. However, in some cases, even the NCF correction could not resolve the issue of natural signal lying above saturation dose, indicating some other unidentified factors are also responsible for this oversaturation of quartz OSL signal.

Investigating the potential of HCl-only treated samples using range-finder OSL dating

Rapid sample preparation and measurement protocols for optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating have been investigated as a method of increasing the throughput of samples (e.g. Roberts et al. 2009). Here, we investigate the potential of dating samples treated using only hydrochloric acid (HCl) for providing accurate range-finder ages for quartz. The equivalent dose (De) is underestimated for older samples using a standard single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol, but measurement of the post-IR OSL signal (e.g. Roberts and Wintle, 2003) provides De estimates within 15% of the ‘target fully prepared De’ for two-thirds of samples. The application of a standardised growth curve (SGC) is also investigated. For these dune samples, the most efficient preparation and measurement procedure from which accurate De estimates can be obtained is treatment with HCl-only, measurement of the natural and regenerative post-IR OSL signal, and calculation using a region-independent SGC. A slightly longer protocol incorporating an additional preparation stage of heavy liquid density separation can be used to improve De estimates in samples where feldspar-contamination is thought to be particularly problematic. In practice, these time savings of days to weeks in the preparation and measurement protocols mean that a large number of samples can first be rapidly treated with HCl, the post-IR blue OSL signal measured using a shortened double-SAR protocol, and De calculated by applying an independent SGC before then deciding which samples require full preparation and measurement, rather than the inefficiency of committing time and resources to all samples if this is unnecessary for the context of a particular suite of samples. The potential of this rapid preparation and measurement protocol is discussed in relation to sand dune dating studies.

A comparison of natural- and laboratory-generated dose response curves for quartz optically stimulated luminescence signals from Chinese Loess

Abstract It has previously been observed that laboratory-generated quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) signals from different samples have similar dose response curves (DRCs) after they are normalized using a test dose. It therefore seems likely that growth of the normalized signal due to natural irradiation of quartz may also follow a general dose response curve. The existence of such a curve is investigated by constructing a natural DRC from the test dose-normalized natural OSL signals of seven samples from the Luochuan section of the Chinese Loess Plateau. The same aliquots are then used to build single aliquot regenerative (SAR) DRCs, making it possible to compare the natural and laboratory constructed curves. Two main differences are observed. Firstly, the laboratory-generated DRCs are best fitted with double saturating exponential functions whereas the natural DRC is equally well fitted with a single saturating function. Secondly, in the laboratory-generated DRCs the normalized OSL signal continues to increase at high laboratory doses (>500 Gy), whereas no growth is seen at these doses in the equivalent natural DRC. These differences between natural- and laboratory-generated DRCs are still apparent even if data are manipulated to isolate the fast component, or if a sensitivity corrected multiple aliquot regenerative (SC-MAR) dose procedure is used. This suggests that the observed differences are not due to the influence of different components or inter-regenerative dose cycle sensitivity changes. The divergence between the natural- and laboratory-generated DRC means that the current maximum limit of quartz OSL dating at the Luochuan section is 150 Gy, as D e estimates above this value are likely to be underestimations.

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) as a chronometer for surface exposure dating

We pioneer a technique of surface‐exposure dating based upon the characteristic form of an optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) bleaching profile beneath a rock surface; this evolves as a function of depth and time. As a field illustration of this new method, the maximum age of a premier example of Barrier Canyon Style (BCS) rock art in Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA, is constrained. The natural OSL signal from quartz grains is measured from the surface to a depth of >10 mm in three different rock samples of the Jurassic Navajo Sandstone. Two samples are from talus with unknown daylight exposure histories; one of these samples was exposed at the time of sampling and one was buried and no longer light exposed. A third sample is known to have been first exposed 80 years ago and was still exposed at the time of sampling. First, the OSL‐depth profile of the known‐age sample is modeled to estimate material‐dependent and environmental parameters. These parameters are then used to fit the model to the corresponding data for the samples of unknown exposure history. From these fits we calculate that the buried sample was light exposed for ∼700 years before burial and that the unburied sample has been exposed for ∼120 years. The shielded surface of the buried talus sample is decorated with rock art; this rock fell from the adjacent Great Gallery panel. Related research using conventional OSL dating suggests that this rockfall event occurred ∼900 years ago, and so we deduce that the rock art must have been created between ∼1600 and 900 years ago. Our results are the first credible estimates of exposure ages based on luminescence bleaching profiles. The strength of this novel OSL method is its ability to establish both ongoing and prior exposure times, at decadal to millennial timescales or perhaps longer (depending on the environmental dose rate) even for material subsequently buried. This has considerable potential in many archeological, geological and geo‐hazard applications.

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of quartzite cobbles from the Tapada do Montinho archaeological site (east‐central Portugal)

The burial age of an alluvially deposited cobble pavement at the Tapada do Montinho archaeological site (east‐central Portugal) is investigated using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. Measurements on the cobbles (quartzite clasts) were carried out on intact slices and large aliquots (∼8 mm) of quartz grains (63–300 μm), both recovered from the outer 1.5‐mm surface of the cobbles. The recycling ratio, recuperation and dose‐recovery tests show that the single‐aliquot regenerative‐dose (SAR) protocol is applicable to both rock slices and quartz grains; both have similar luminescence characteristics. The variation in the natural OSL signal with depth below the cobble surface using intact slices from two different cobbles shows that both were bleached to a depth of at least ∼2 mm before deposition. A model of the variation of dose with depth fitted to data from one of the cobbles gives a burial age of ∼19 ka and also predicts the dose‐depth variation at the time of deposition. Ages based on rock slices suggest that one cobble surface, and the inner parts of two other cobbles experienced a resetting event at ∼45 ka, consistent with the age control. However, the surfaces of the other cobbles all record light‐exposure events in the range 26 to 14 ka, suggesting that some of the cobbles were exposed to daylight perhaps more than once in this period. Given the shallow burial depth and unexpectedly young ages of the surrounding and overlying finer‐grained sediment, it is suggested that phases of light exposure following surficial erosion are probably responsible for this underestimate. Nevertheless, it is remarkable that we can identify and quantify four events (two light exposures of different durations and two sequential burial periods) in the dose record contained within a single clast, and this suggests that the luminescence dating of rock surfaces may prove, in the future, to be at least as important as sand/silt sediment dating.

The estimation of basic experimental parameters in the fine-grained quartz multiple-aliquot regenerative-dose OSL dating of Chinese loess

The sensitivity-corrected multiple-aliquot regenerative-dose (MAR) protocol provides a reliable approach for fine-grained quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. For reliable estimation of the equivalent dose (De), we investigated certain basic experimental parameters in the fine-grained quartz MAR OSL dating of Chinese loess. (1) For suitable bleaching of the natural OSL signal of the regenerative-dose aliquots, the effect of bleaching duration using sunlight, SOL2 and blue LEDs on De was studied, and it is found that the appropriate method is a short-duration SOL2 (e.g. 5 min) or blue LEDs (e.g. 60 s) bleaching. (2) To select the appropriate test dose, the relationship between the test dose and De was investigated based on three samples having De values of approximately 11, 31 and 137 Gy respectively. It is suggested that the test dose for sensitivity correction may be limited to less than approximately 10–20 Gy. (3) Three commonly used fitting modes for quartz OSL growth curve were compared at three regenerative-dose scales. The results indicate that the mode of two saturating exponential functions plus a constant is appropriate and universal. (4) The comparison of De values derived using OSL approach with those obtained using the recuperated OSL (ReOSL) protocol shows that the reliable De estimation in the fine-grained quartz MAR OSL dating of Chinese loess may be limited to less than approximately 300 Gy. (5) The comparison of growth curves for 18 samples from the Weinan, Xifeng and Jingyuan sites shows that it is feasible to construct a standardized growth curve (SGC) for fine-grained quartz OSL signal in the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP).

Changes in natural OSL sensitivity during single aliquot regeneration procedure and their implications for equivalent dose determination

Abstract Measurement of low temperature (90°C–120°C) Thermoluminescence (TL) sensitivity of natural quartz samples subjected to pre-heating and optical stimulation indicate that significant sensitivity changes can occur during measurement of the natural Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL). During the measurement of natural signal, the luminescence sensitivity of samples can change by 40%. The sensitivity changes both during the initial preheat and the measurement of natural OSL. The currently used version of Single Aliquot Regeneration (SAR) protocol measures and corrects for the sensitivity changes after preheat and readout of natural OSL. However, it does not take into account the changes in sensitivity during the readout of the natural signal. We therefore developed a correction procedure so that both the natural and the regenerated OSL intensities can be measured and plotted with the same sensitivity and suggest that in the absence of such a correction, a considerable fraction of the SAR based ages could have systematic errors. The correction for the sensitivity is based on the use of sensitivity of 110°C TL quartz peak, which is correlated to OSL signal (Murray and Roberts, 1998). The use of 110°C peak provides a reasonable measure of the changes in OSL sensitivity of quartz. A modified Natural Sensitivity Corrected-SAR (NSC-SAR) procedure, that comprises the measurement of, 1) the TL intensity of 110°C peak for a test dose on sample as received (i.e. natural sample) and, 2) the sensitivity of the 110°C peak of the same sample after the preheat and read out of the natural OSL, is proposed. This ratio, termed as Natural Correction Factor (NCF), then provides a way to correct for sensitivity changes. Results on samples from diverse depositional environments indicated that the NSC-SAR consistently (without exception) provided improved distribution in paleodoses i.e. a lower scatter compared to the standard SAR protocol. In addition, the use of this protocol also resolved anomalous cases where the intensity of natural OSL was significantly above the saturation intensity of the regenerated OSL. Implicitly, this study implies a caution on the use of palaeodoses obtained from single grains as such a correction is not possible in the currently used automated single grain OSL measurement systems. The only way now on will be to analyze aliquots with only a grain on them.

Assessing the completeness of optical resetting of quartz OSL in the natural environment

Resetting of previously accumulated optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) signals during transport of sediment is a fundamental requirement for reliable optical dating. The completeness of optical resetting of 46 modern-age quartz samples from a variety of depositional environments was examined. All equivalent dose ( D e ) estimates were < 5 Gy , with the majority of aeolian samples < 0.1 Gy , and fluvial samples < 1 Gy . The OSL signal of quartz originates from several trap types with different rates of charge loss during illumination. As such, incomplete bleaching may be identifiable as an increase in D e from easy-to-bleach through to hard-to-bleach components. For all modern fluvial samples with non-zero D e values, SAR D e ( t ) analysis and component-resolved linearly modulated OSL (LM OSL) D e estimates showed this to be the case, implying incomplete resetting of previously accumulated charge. LM OSL measurements were also made to investigate the extent of bleaching of the slow components in the natural environment. In aeolian sediments examined, the natural LM OSL was effectively zero (i.e. all components were fully reset). The slow components of modern fluvial samples displayed measurable residual signals up to 15 Gy.

Identification of well-bleached grains in the optical dating of quartz

A simple means of identifying poorly bleached samples is proposed for the dating of quartz using the single-aliquot additive-dose optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) protocol. For a well-bleached sample, it is shown that the equivalent dose (De) does not change with the ratio of the natural OSL from a brief (0.1s) stimulation to the 110°C thermoluminescence from a subsequent small test dose. In contrast, in a poorly bleached sample, the De increases strongly at higher values of the ratio. These observations suggest that this ratio can be used as an indicator of whether or not a sample is well bleached. The OSL/TL ratio is also likely to be sensitive to such factors as thermal history and feldspar contamination.

Towards the development of a preheat procedure for OSL dating of quartz

Isothermal decay data for the natural optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) of a quartz sample from the Kimberley region of Western Australia are presented. These show that >99% of the initial OSL signal measured using a broad-band blue/green-light stimulation source is derived from a single trap. A lifetime at 20°C of about 850 Ma is predicted for this OSL trap. Since these measurements may be affected by charge transfer or sensitivity changes, both of which are thought to occur as a result of heating, the effects of prior heating (preheating) on the shape of the quartz OSL decay curve have been investigated. The relationship between the initial OSL (first 0.4 s), the OSL at the end of a 100 s stimulation period, and the integrated OSL (0–100 s), is presented at a constant stimulation temperature of 125°C, but following preheats at temperatures between 110°C and 380°C. It is deduced that both the natural and regenerated OSL are dominated by a single trap/luminescence centre combination for preheats up to above 300°C. There is probably a small contribution [about 1% of the natural OSL integral (0–100 s) without preheating] from traps which are not emptied by heating to 340°C, and which have a longer lifetime. Based on the observation that the initial OSL signal from 0.1 s stimulation correlates well with the net integral OSL (0–100 s), the effect of preheat on the natural and regenerated OSL is examined again using single aliquots. These curves are then corrected for changes in luminescence efficiency with preheating obtained using the 110°C thermoluminescence from a 0.1 Gy test dose, before fitting with a simple two trap model. We draw conclusions regarding the implications of this study for dating.