TL properties of individual quartz grains

While investigating the NTL and NTL+ATL of quartz samples of archaeological origin, we found a distinct peak shift which depended on the grain transparency. A higher proportion of frosty to shiny grains was closely correlated with a lower peak temperature in the NTL+ATL. This observation was confirmed by the TL measurements on selected shiny and frosty grains. Further experimental results: 1. There was no detectable beta dose-rate dependence on gran transparency when a loose monolayer of 7 mg/cm2 was used. 2. When glowed one by one, the TL yield of individual grains varied by up to an order of magnitude and was independent of their size and optical appearnce. (author)