Tracing quartz provenance: A multi-method investigation of luminescence sensitisation mechanisms of quartz from granite source rocks and derived sediments

Quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) sensitivity as well as some electron spin resonance (ESR) and cathodoluminescence (CL) signals have been empirically proposed as indicators for sediment provenance. Sensitivity is defined as luminescence emitted in response to a given dose per unit mass. While it is largely believed to be acquired by earth surface processes, recent studies bring evidence that sensitisation processes depend on source geology.

Here we combine OSL and thermoluminescence (TL), ESR and CL analyses to understand the mechanisms of quartz OSL sensitisation. We investigate granites and their derived sediments from catchments draining simple lithologies of known age that display contrasting OSL sensitisation behaviour both in nature and during irradiation and light exposure laboratory experiments. The sample displaying increased OSL sensitisation is characterised by TL emission at intermediate temperatures (150–250 °C), Ti-related signals in CL, and Ti and Ge lithium compensated signals in ESR. The insensitive samples either lack or exhibit very weak such characteristics and contain several times less amount of trace titanium measured by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS).

We demonstrate that the OSL sensitisation by irradiation and light exposure results as an effect of the existence of certain defects and impurities in the quartz crystal in the parent rock, such as titanium and germanium. However, the degree of sensitisation reached in nature is significantly higher than in the laboratory. As such, the existence of this precursor represents the potential for sensitisation by irradiation and illumination. Sensitivity can later be amplified by other environmental factors that remain to be identified.