Thermoluminescence response of natural white quartz collected from Gelephu, Bhutan

TL properties of natural quartz mineral collected from Gelephu, (Bhutan) were studied. With the help of various characterization techniques the quality of the sample was tested. The thermoluminescence (TL) analysis was carried out under X-ray irradiation. The un-irradiated sample showed no TL signal; however, after X-ray irradiation, a composite glow curve was observed. The kinetic analysis of the glow curve was carried out and it was observed that there was five trapping sites at depths ∼0.68, 0.90, 0.97, 1.06 and 1.10 eV responsible for five closely spaced glow peaks at ∼341, 362, 383, 397 and 426 K respectively. The dosimetric features of the mineral were studied. The response when studied from the whole glow curve was non-linear. However, the dose response studied from the 426 K peak was found to be linear from 10 mGy to 10 Gy. The fading of the TL signal of this 426 K peak was ∼12% within 5 days after irradiation and onward it was ∼4% up to 30 days. The reproducibility of the results was also good.