Luminescence at the end of the tunnelling - Investigating charge transfer mechanisms and luminescence dating methods for feldspar minerals

Luminescence at the end of the tunnelling - Investigating charge transfer mechanisms and luminescence dating methods for feldspar minerals

Kars, R.H.

Dorenbos, P. (promotor)
Wallinga, J. (promotor)

Applied Sciences

FAME

2014-05-13

This thesis comprises analyses of mineral physics with an application in geology and archeology. The thesis contributes to the development of feldspar luminescence dating methods in order to extend the applicable age range of feldspar luminescence dating in the Quaternary (last 2.6 Ma). The research is divided into three parts: 1) Understanding feldspar luminescence by advancing the physical model that describes optical charge transfer mechanisms in natural feldspars; 2) Validating the recently developed method of post-IR IRSL dating and testing post-IR IRSL laboratory protocols used for dating; and 3) Investigating the bleaching behaviour of post-IR IRSL signals. The results presented in the thesis add to the understanding of the luminescence processes in feldspar minerals and to the applicability of feldspar post-IR IRSL dating. The charge transfer processes that give rise to luminescence in feldspar are complex and difficult to define, but the experiments presented here have yielded valuable additions to understanding these mechanisms. The current state-of-the-art of feldspar luminescence dating methods enables extension of the age range on which luminescence dating yields reliable ages up to ~500 ka.

feldspar
luminescence
sediment
geochronology

https://doi.org/10.4233/uuid:5a0e63c7-d214-4f8c-b147-57067756dc95

Uitgeverij BOXpress

9789088918674

Institutional Repository

doctoral thesis

(c) 2014 Kars, R.H.