New quartz technique for OSL dating of limestones

Abstract

The equivalent dose De determination of limestone-made ancient constructions by thermoluminescence (TL) prevents accurate measurements and requires plateau test of bleached curves. Optical stimulated luminescence (OSL) of quartz and feldspar minerals for surface dating is routinely applied for De but not for limestones. Here the OSL of present traces of such minerals removed with powder from surface limestone bleached by sunlight overcomes this issue and offers an alternative way for De. This is verified with further test examples.