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Luminescence, Rock Surfaces

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Encyclopedia of Scientific Dating Methods

Definition

Luminescence is the light emitted following the release of stored energy (in the form of trapped charge) accumulated in crystalline materials; this energy accumulates in natural minerals such as quartz and feldspar through the absorption of ionizing radiation, either cosmic rays or resulting from the decay of naturally occurring radionuclides. This trapped charge can be released or reset by heat or light; if reset by heat, the light emitted from the mineral is called thermoluminescence (TL), and if released by photon stimulation, it is called optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). Thus, luminescence dating provides an estimate of the time elapsed since the mineral grains were last heated or exposed to daylight (Aitken 1998).

Introduction

In geology and archaeology, there are many examples of rock surfaces, rock art, and stone structures of unknown age. In archaeology, megaliths, buildings, chambered burial mounds, field walls, and cairns are very important to understanding...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geoscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

    Reza Sohbati Ph.D.

  2. Center for Nuclear Technologies, Technical University of Denmark, Building 201, DTU Risø; Campus, Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde, Denmark

    Reza Sohbati Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Reza Sohbati Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Reza Sohbati Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    W. Jack Rink

  2. Department of Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Jeroen Thompson

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Sohbati, R. (2013). Luminescence, Rock Surfaces. In: Rink, W., Thompson, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Scientific Dating Methods. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6326-5_83-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6326-5_83-5

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  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-6326-5

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Luminescence, Rock Surfaces
    Published:
    27 January 2014

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6326-5_83-5

  2. Original

    Luminescence, Rock Surfaces
    Published:
    22 October 2013

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6326-5_83-4

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