CHRONOLOGICAL SEPARATION OF INTERGLACIAL RAISED BEACHES FROM NORTHWESTERN EUROPE USING THERMOLUMINESCENCE

Thermoluminescence (TL) age estimates have been obtained on coarse-grained detrital feldspar from Eemian beach sand (substage 5e), early Weichselian dune sands (substages 5d and 5b), and pre-Eemian beach sand. The past radiation dose is obtained using the additive dose method. Even for the oldest samples, which date to 300,000 yr B.P. by other methods, the TL signal is not in saturation and can be doubled by the addition of laboratory radiation doses without saturation being achieved. This is contrasted with the behavior of polymineral, silt-sized grains from loess in the adjacent area. The TL age estimates are systematically underestimated by about 40% when compared with the expected geological ages. However, they are in correct stratigraphic order and demonstrate that stage 5 beach deposits can be distinguished from those resulting from earlier high sea levels using TL signals from potassium feldspars. © 1991.