Preliminary study of the application of natural olivine in Cenozoic dating

• Published in: Radiation measurements 2006-08, Vol.41 (7), p.982-986
• Main Authors: Takada, Masashi, Tani, Atsushi, Shimada, Aiko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dating; Dosimetry; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Geochronology; Isotope geochemistry. Geochronology; Mineralogy; Olivine; OSL; Silicates
• ISSN: 1350-4487; 1879-0925
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2006.05.024

The study investigated the luminescence behaviour of natural olivine to discuss the potential for Cenozoic (quaternary) dating. The UV-blue thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves of irradiated olivines have a resolved peak at 190 °C and other peaks at higher temperature at lower dose levels, and broad signals around 275–310 and 375–400 °C at higher dose levels. The UV-blue TL increases with additional laboratory dose to ∼ 1.6 kGy within a plateau temperature region, suggesting the possibility of dosimetry and Cenozoic dating. Both infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) and blue light stimulated luminescence (BLSL) were detected from laboratory-irradiated olivines although the BLSL was weaker than the IRSL. Furthermore, post-BL IRSL was detected but post-IR BLSL was not observed. Therefore, IR stimulation is recommended for optically stimulated luminescence measurements with natural olivine. The growth of the IRSL signal component with doses less than several tens of Gy are too weak to measure. The dose–response curves suggest that further investigations on various types of olivine are needed for practical IRSL dating in the late Pleistocene or more recent.