Changes of luminescence properties dependent on OH-impurities in natural quartz

Abstract

The changes into TL property from quartz slice samples accompanied by a thermal treatment for 100 h at 1100°C were studied using IR absorption spectra and a measurement of the α-β transition temperature. Both BTL and weak BTL parts, having a 470 nm peak, from the original quartz slice were unexpectedly changed into an intense RTL-property, giving bands at around 380 nm and 630 nm after annealing. The distribution patterns due to OH-impurities from the IR absorption spectra showed an inverse correlation to the color center images (CCIs) and the TLCIs before the thermal treatment. The denser CC and RTL-parts appeared after annealing from the opposite BTL patterns in the original slice. A similar tendency was found concerning OSL phenomena. The α-β transition temperatures from a colorless (or weak BTL) part, corresponding to a higher impurities part, were apparently related to the prominent changes of the luminescence properties; the thermal annealing procedure brought about into 570.3°C from 571.6°C in the colorless part, while almost constant temperature of 572.5°C maintaing in color part in the original quartz slice.