LUMINESCENCE OF URANIUM AND RARE-EARTH ELEMENTS IN APATITE OF FOSSIL FISH TEETH

Time-delayed laser-induced luminescence of uranium and rare-earth elem ents (REE) in apatite of fossil fish teeth from the phosphorites of th e Senonian Mishash Formation, Israel, were investigated before and aft er thermal treatment. The unheated samples show luminescence of UO22+. Luminescence of REE(3+) (Sm, Eu, Pr) is observed only after heating t he samples at 1100 K in air. The spectral properties indicate that UO2 2+ in the unheated samples is located in two different positions, as a qua-complexes of uranyl-ions and associated with organic matter. The R EE in the unheated samples are accommodated in non-luminescent form. A fter heating the REE(3+) (Sm, Eu, Pr) are located in the Ca2+II site p resumably due to thermal diffusion.