In this paper we describe our efforts to determine the formation chron
ology of a sequence of dunes on Buctouche Spit, a Holocene deposit on
the northeast coast of New Brunswick. Optical dating, using infrared s
timulation of K-feldspar grains, yielded ages ranging from 5 +/- 30 a
for an embryo dune to 765 +/- 45 a for the oldest dune. Thermoluminesc
ence ages, although less precise, support the recent formation of the
dunes. The ages exhibit the expected seriation from youngest to oldest
and are consistent with historical evidence coupled with an assumed c
onstant sediment aggradation rate. The age resolution obtained was ver
y good and we conclude that the optical dating method used here shows
great promise.