Deployment and development of methodology for single-grain dating by optically stimulated luminescence

Abstract

This project proposes the nucleation of a new line of dating research of sediments using the technique of dating of quartz and feldspar grains in size around 300¼m in diameter. In the literature this technique is called the "single-grain dating", by Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL). The interest in this technique is mainly in the fluvial sediments dating, where the grain cannot have its OSL signal decreased by long enough sunlight exposition, or have been dragged under cloudy water disabling its direct exposure to sunlight. This technique can identify and eliminate the unbleached grain, observing its age, which is discrepant from the average. Therefore, the obtained age by this method will be much closer to real.We intend to use this method, especially with samples of sediments collected in the Amazon region, with the collaboration of researchers Prof. Dr. Dilce of Fatima Rossetti (INPE-São José dos Campos) and Prof.Dr. Emilio Soares (University Federal of Amazonas). The choice of this area of study was based on the importance of this region, the paleoenvironments results treat the study of global climate change and also due to lack of data that occurs in this region nowadays. The advance of this project will start, in the country, a line of original research; it will bring a technological increase in the laboratorial infrastructure, which will match levels found in some developed countries. (AU)