A thermoluminescence dating study of some Quaternary calcite: potential and problems

Abstract

The basic thermoluminescence (TL) characteristics relevant to dating Quaternary calcite are reviewed and modifications of the basic TL age equation due to the effect of uranium series disequilibrium are discussed. The equivalent doses were measured for six samples whose ages had been previously determined by uranium series dating and for which doses could be calculated: random discrepancies up to ± 200% were found. Tentative explanations for these discrepancies are put forward, the most probable being sample inhomogeneity.