TL response of a natural fluorite

A batch of a naturally occurring fluorite (CaF2) from the Middle Benue Vall ey region of Nigeria has been studied in some detail for its thermoluminesc ence (TL) properties. TL glow peaks are observed at 119, 144 and 224 degree s C at a heating rate of 10 degrees C s(-1). The TL response is observed to increase with increasing dose, as expected, over the dose range examined. Variations are observed in the decay curves of the various glow peaks with storage at room temperature. While the lower temperature peaks are observed to decay, enhancement of the TL signal is observed for the 224 degrees C g low peak when stored for four weeks. A low-level radioactivity measurement showed no evidence of self-irradiation from naturally occurring radionuclid es. UV exposure was suppressed by storage in a black sealed container to ex clude sunlight contribution to the observed TL response. A scheme involving the formation of large defect complexes, from smaller ones, during storage , as possible route leading to loss of signal in low temperature glow peaks and a corresponding enhancement at higher temperature, is suggested. (C) 1 999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.