Optically-Stimulated Luminescence is a late Quaternary dating technique used to date the last time quartz sediment was exposed to light. Once this sediment is deposited and subsequently buried, it is removed from light and is exposed to low levels of natural radiation in the surrounding sediment.

What can Luminescence Dating be used on?

Luminescence dating is used to estimate the age of sediments by determining how long ago mineral grains were last exposed to daylight. The amount of unstable trapped electrons in the crystal structure of minerals like quartz or feldspar is used to define the age of the sediment.

What is OSL analysis?

In physics, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) is a method for measuring doses from ionizing radiation. Radiation dosimetry, which is the measurement of accumulated radiation dose in the tissues of health care, nuclear, research and other workers, as well as in building materials in regions of nuclear disaster.