Investigations of the performance of quartz single aliquot D-E determination procedures

Over the past few years a variety of equivalent dose (DE) determination tec hniques for quartz, which are truly single aliquot-based, have been propose d. Such methods avoid the need for inter-aliquot normalisation, and provide considerable improvements in the precision of equivalent dose (DE) estimat es. Much of the research leading to these developments have been based on d etailed investigations of a few samples, primarily from Australia. All 'pro tocols' developed have performed impressively. It is necessary, however, to verify the consistency of the single aliquot DE determination methods on a wide range of samples before they can be considered as prescribed or stand ard. We have analysed approximately 100 samples from a range of sedimentary environments and geological provinces in an attempt to confirm the robustn ess of the single aliquot techniques. Up to 65% of samples measured in our laboratory were not suited to analysis via application of single aliquot ad ditive dose (SAAD) procedures. This relates to a range of factors, includin g lack of sample sensitivity and dose dependent sensitivity changes. Furthe rmore, we have observed some problems in dating young sediments using singl e aliquot regeneration (SAR) methods. Critically, we observe that sample to sample variability on quartz luminescence (thermally- and optically-stimul ated) behaviour is considerable, and many samples are found to exhibit beha viour which contrasts greatly from that described in recent phenomenologica l studies. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.