TEST OF THERMOLUMINESCENCE DATING OF LOESS FROM NEW-ZEALAND AND ALASKA

The accuracy of thermoluminescence (TL) ages for loess (and sediments in general) greater than approximately 100 ka is disputed. We tested t he accuracy of three common TL sediment-dating techniques applied to 4 -11 mum sized polymineral grains from known-age loess, using 16 sample s from North Island and South Island, New Zealand, and 2 samples from central Alaska. Estimated sample ages range from 20-26 to approximatel y800 ka. We varied the optical bleaching spectrum, the selected window of the emission spectra (ultraviolet or uv, blue and green wavelength s), the pre-readout heat treatment, and the TL equivalent-dose measure ment technique. Most of the 20-26 ka samples gave TL age underestimate s of 3-6 ka that may be attributed to post-burial open system behavior . For the older samples, the partial-bleach TL method gave expected ag es up to approximately 300 ka, and the total-bleach TL method produced expected ages above approximately 100 ka. The partial-bleach regenera tion TL method gave significant age underestimates for samples older t han approximately 100 ka, with a maximum TL age of approximately 250 k a for samples having expected ages up to approximately 350 ka. Two 300 -360 ka samples which gave total-bleach age underestimates with use of uv TL and green TL, gave expected ages with use of blue TL. These res ults demonstrate that reliable TL ages for loess from New Zealand and Alaska up to approximately 800 ka can be obtained if uv (and green?) e missions and the various regeneration methods are avoided. This age ra nge is well above the former putative 80-100 ka upper age limit for TL dating of loess from other regions, which was thought to be a global limit. Application of our successful procedures to such loess is encou raged.