THE TIMING OF OSL SENSITIVITY CHANGES IN A NATURAL QUARTZ

The time of 110 degrees C thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) sensitivity changes in explored using a natural (aeolian) quartz sample from Australia that was previously found to exhibit marked dose-dependent sensitivity change. The changes occur asynchronously; the 100 degrees C TL sensitivity changes after dosing plus pre-heating, whereas the OSL sensitivity changes (proportionately with dose) after optical bleaching. Although the magnitude and saturation characteristics of the sensitivity changes are found to be similar, their non-synchronicity negates a direct link between the phenomena. Implications of these results for dating procedures are discussed. In particular, the results indicate that a single aliquot additive dose procedure similar to that developed for coarse-grained potasium feldspar should be possible for some quartz samples.