<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Quartz is the datable component in mortar. Although its luminescence properties are very well studied, the problem of mortar dating arises from a low level of optical bleaching. In order to reduce the time consuming efforts for dating lime mortar in monuments by optically stimulated luminescence, we investigated the most suitable methods of dose and dose rate determination, and we explored tests which are suitable to predict the datability of a given material. Reverting to the large number of publications on sedimentary partially bleached quartz we found linear modulation techniques especially useful, equally we also recommend the determination of the level of optical depletion before starting analyses. Single grain analysis is regarded as an ultimate but infallible tool to date very poorly bleached quartz from mortar. Dose rate measurements need to take into account the radioactive equilibrium of the uranium decay and the short range inhomogeneity of the environmental gamma radiation field: gamma spectrometry and on-site TLD measurements are best suited.</p></abstract>

Quartz is the datable component in mortar. Although its luminescence properties are very well studied, the problem of mortar dating arises from a low level of optical bleaching. In order to reduce the time consuming efforts for dating lime mortar in monuments by optically stimulated luminescence, we investigated the most suitable methods of dose and dose rate determination, and we explored tests which are suitable to predict the datability of a given material. Reverting to the large number of publications on sedimentary partially bleached quartz we found linear modulation techniques especially useful, equally we also recommend the determination of the level of optical depletion before starting analyses. Single grain analysis is regarded as an ultimate but infallible tool to date very poorly bleached quartz from mortar. Dose rate measurements need to take into account the radioactive equilibrium of the uranium decay and the short range inhomogeneity of the environmental gamma radiation field: gamma spectrometry and on-site TLD measurements are best suited.

Dating mortar by optically stimulated luminescence: A feasibility study

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Geographisches Institut, Abt. Geomorphologie Rudower Chaussee 16, D-12489, Berlin, Germany

Geochronometria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Dating mortar by optically stimulated luminescence: A feasibility study"}

Quartz is the datable component in mortar. Although its luminescence properties are very well studied, the problem of mortar dating arises from a low level of...

Dating mortar by optically stimulated luminescence: A feasibility study

Published Online: Jan 28, 2011

Page range: 42 - 49

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s13386-011-0002-0

Keywords
optical dating, monuments preservation, mortar

© 2011 Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Dating mortar by optically stimulated luminescence: A feasibility study

Published Online: Jan 28, 2011

Page range: 42 - 49

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s13386-011-0002-0

Keywordsoptical dating, monuments preservation, mortar

© 2011 Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
optical dating, monuments preservation, mortar