Potential use of Ti-center in ESR dating of fluvial sediment

The titanium centers of quartz (Ti-Li and Ti-H) were used to date fluvial sediments, together with the aluminum-center (Al). The response of these centers to the light from a solar simulator suggests that these centers are sensitive only to the UV component of the sunlight. Ti-Li and Ti-H proved to be totally bleachable by the sun and the necessary time was, respectively, 520 and 240 h. The multiple-center method was then applied on several alluvial sediments of the Creuse Valley (France). Equivalent doses and ages were calculated and Ti-Li center proved to be suitable for dating Middle Pleistocene fluvial terraces sediment. The use of both Ti-Li- and Al-centers is also recommended to determine if the sediment was well bleached at the time of deposition.