Thermoluminescence dating of eolian sediments from Sao Francisco River, State of Bahia, Brazil

Detailed Thermoluminescence (TL) measurements have been carried out on quar tz from eolian sediments in dunes from the Sao Francisco River, State of Ba hia, Brazil. The present study indicated typical glow curve shapes for coar se grain quartz with a high temperature peak at about 590 K. The samples ex hibited both linear and sublinear gamma dose dependence especially at low d ose regions. Ages estimates obtained on the large number of eolian sediment s were in the range of 10(3)-10(4) years. Results of the present study alon g with long term stability of the TL signals, theoretical modelling of the TL data and the implications of the ages for delineating the most important periods for the generation of the sand dunes are discussed.