Radiofluorescence of Quartz: Challenges and application of a new dating technique

自20世纪50年代初以来，释光测年技术已成为第四纪研究中最重要的测年技术之一。可确定日期的事件是石英或长石等天然矿物的最后一次阳光照射（光激发光，OSL）或加热（热激发光，TL）。测量过程中的发光过程发生在光（OSL）或热（TL）刺激过程中。相反，在照射期间观察到放射性荧光（RF）。对于长石，RF已经成功地测试了沉积物的定年应用。然而，对于天然石英分离物，由于只有少数研究可用，因此知之甚少。利用创新的测量设备，该项目的目的是评估石英RF作为测年方法的潜力。作为一项初步研究，该项目旨在促进发光测年的方法研究，包括五个部分：（1）采用标准方法选择和调查石英标准样品（例如ICP-MS，X射线衍射法），（2）研究所选石英样品的基本RF特性，（3）使用数值编程语言R开发用于RF测年分析的软件工具，（4）制定石英RF测年的初步测量方案;（5）可选：将RF测年结果与常规（OSL/TL）测定的发光年龄进行比较。该项目旨在更好地理解石英的RF现象，并深入了解一般的基本发光过程。

Since the early beginnings in the 1950s, luminescence dating techniques have become one of the most important dating techniques in Quaternary research. The datable event is the last sunlight exposure (optically stimulated luminescence, OSL) or heating (thermally stimulated luminescence, TL) of natural minerals like quartz or feldspar. Luminescence processes during measurement occur in the course optical (OSL) or thermal (TL) stimulation. In contrast, radiofluorescence (RF) is observed during irradiation. For feldspar RF has been successfully tested for dating application on sediments. For natural quartz separates, however, only little is known since only few studies are available. Using innovative measurement equipment, the aim of this project is to evaluate the potential of RF of quartz for use as a dating method. Intended as a preliminary study, the project promotes methodological research in luminescence dating and consists of five parts: (1) selection and investigation of quartz reference samples using standard methods (e.g. ICP-MS, X-ray diffractometry), (2) investigation of basic RF characteristics of the chosen quartz samples, (3) development of a software tool for RF dating analysis using the numerical programming language R, (4) development of a preliminary measurement protocol for RF dating of quartz, (5) optional: comparison of RF dating results with conventionally (OSL/TL) determined luminescence ages. The project is seeking for a better understanding of the RF phenomenon of quartz in particular and for deeper insights into fundamental luminescence processes in general.