LUMINESCENCE DATING OF SEDIMENTS FROM BUCTOUCHE SPIT, NEW-BRUNSWICK

In this paper we describe our efforts to determine the formation chronology of a sequence of dunes on Buctouche Spit, a Holocene deposit on the northeast coast of New Brunswick. Optical dating, using infrared stimulation of K-feldspar grains, yielded ages ranging from 5 +/- 30 a for an embryo dune to 765 +/- 45 a for the oldest dune. Thermoluminescence ages, although less precise, support the recent formation of the dunes. The ages exhibit the expected seriation from youngest to oldest and are consistent with historical evidence coupled with an assumed constant sediment aggradation rate. The age resolution obtained was very good and we conclude that the optical dating method used here shows great promise.