Development of optically stimulated luminescence dating techniques for application to terrestrial and martian studies
Abstract
Scope and Method of Study: Geological processes including aeolian and fluvial activity have shaped the surface of Mars. The temporal timescale on which these events have taken is place is important for understanding the geological history of Mars including time periods in which life may have developed on the planet. However, methods do not currently exist that can be used in-situ on Mars to constrain the recent (younger than 1 million years) geological timescale. It has been suggested that optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, which measures the radiation dose and dose rate minerals are exposed to over time and hence the burial time, can be developed as an in-situ tool for delineating the timing of these recent events. This study attempts to develop some of the necessary techniques for measuring the radiation dose in martian minerals by studying martian soil simulants and meteorites. Findings and Conclusions: Most of the luminescent materials that will be encountered on Mars are different from those typically used for OSL dating on Earth. However, the techniques used for absorbed radiation dose determination in terrestrial OSL dating studies can be adapted to martian simulants and meteorites with a few minor but important changes. These changes have to do with the heat treatment of the samples prior to OSL readout as well as the temperature of irradiation and OSL measurement due to the ambient temperature of Mars. While many scientific challenges must still be overcome for this project, this study provides a basis for further study of martian simulants.
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- OSU Dissertations [11222]