Component Resolved Equivalent Dose Estimation Using TL Glow Curves of Travertine Samples from Anatolia, Turkey

This study provides methodological aspects on the equivalent dose estimation for travertine samples, namely heated calcium carbonate, using the TL multiple-aliquot additive-dose approach. Large equivalent doses (EDs), within the range 750–1300 Gy, were calculated using the plateau method based on the NTL glow curve. Moreover, a component resolved TL glow-peak analysis was carried out, using the integrated intensity of the NTL glow peaks for the ED estimation after deconvolution based on the OTOR model. Three different TL peaks were used, termed P4, P5 and P6. The integrated intensity of TL glow peak P4 resulted in age overestimation (15–26%), compared to the age provided using the plateau method. This overestimation could be attributed to the fact that the temperature range of P4 does not coincide with the plateau region of each sample. Milder overestimation (8–14%) was noticed using the integrated intensity of TL glow peak P6, mostly due to the poor deconvolution resolution. Only the integrated intensity of TL glow peak P5 after deconvolution provides ED values compatible with those yielded using the plateau method, with good accuracy. The present study suggests not using the TL intensity (neither in terms of integrated intensity nor of peak height intensity) for ED estimation; instead it is highly recommended to use either the plateau method, or alternatively integrated intensity of TL peak P5 after deconvolution. Unfortunately, using the peak height of TL P5 is not recommended, due to overlapping with P6.