Thermoluminescence and radiocarbon dating of Australian desert dunes

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Abstract
Quaternary lithostratigraphic units in continental dunes have been dated at three locations in South Australia by both radiocarbon dating of organic carbon bedded either in dune sands or in deposits correlated with dune building episodes, and by thermoluminescence (TL) sediment dating of the dune sands. It was not possible to date in situ organic carbon and adjacent aeolian quartz particles, so the comparison of dates is for lithostratigraphic units. The TL dates were calculated using two methods of estimating dose rates, and no significant differences were found between the results. The TL dates at all sites agree with and extend the range of ages given by radiocarbon for the lithostratigraphic units. None of the TL dates contradicts the ages given by radiocarbon. The agreement between the results of the two dating methods gives confidence in TL dates which are well beyond the range of the conventional radiocarbon method, examples of which are given in this paper.