Investigation of the optically stimulated luminescence dating method ...

Introduction 3
co-operation between the Department of Analytical Chemistry (Institute for Nuclear
Sciences) and the Department of Geology and Soil Sciences (Laboratory for Mineralogy,
Petrology & Micropedology) of the Ghent University.
In Chapter 1 of this thesis, the basic principles of the luminescence process are briefly
described, with an explanation of how the phenomenon can be used for dating. Quartz is
the dosimeter that has been used throughout this work, and the most important OSL
properties of this mineral are discussed in Chapter 2. Although this chapter is based on a
study of the literature, it contains results from own research to illustrate some of these
properties more clearly. Chapter 3 deals with the two quantities that need to be
experimentally determined to arrive at an OSL age, namely the equivalent and the annual
dose. An overview is presented of the different measurement protocols and procedures for
equivalent dose (De) determination, with specific attention to those that have been
developed for quartz. Some results from own research are used for the sake of illustration.
The most recently developed protocols allow obtaining many values of De for a single
sample, and a discussion on the interpretation of these data is included. The determination
of the annual dose, on the other hand, is the same in TL and OSL dating. Therefore, only
the basic notions are covered. As no well-established experience was available in our
laboratory for the dating of coarse quartz grains (90-125 μm), however, the specific
aspects associated with the evaluation of the annual dose to such grains are discussed in
some greater detail.
The actual implementation of the optical dating method in our laboratory is described in
Chapter 4. The implementation consisted of the exploration of various aspects of the
method, by applying it to quartz grains extracted from a sequence of Upper-Pleniglacial to
Late-glacial coversands exposed at the locality of Ossendrecht (SW Netherlands). This
site was chosen because a number of radiocarbon dates and earlier luminescence dates are
available that provide independent age control, and hence a means for validating other
dating procedures.
Finally, Chapter 5 deals with the application of the optical dating method to a sequence of
Upper-Weichselian coversands exposed at the locality of Grubbenvorst (SE Netherlands).
The exposed sediments bear witness to the landscape evolution in the southeastern
Netherlands during the Upper Pleniglacial and Late-glacial. Therefore, the site is