Probing luminescence centers in Na rich feldspar

•The UV, violet–blue, green and deep red emissions characterised using site-selective spectroscopy.•The green–yellow band shifts with the excitation energy and is not related to Mn2+.•Band-tail states likely play a role in the green and deep red PL emissions.

In contrast to the detailed investigations on the dosimetric electron trap in feldspar only little has been done to understand the luminescence centers. We use a comparison of multiple spectroscopic techniques, site selective photoluminescence spectroscopy and time resolved measurements to further our understanding of the luminescence mechanisms and recombination sites, in a sample of Na rich plagioclase feldspar (oligoclase). Both the UV and violet–blue emissions show resonant excitations arising from a distribution of energy levels. We propose, contrary to the general understanding, that the green emission may not arise from Mn2+ in our sample and that photoionisation of this centre may be possible by excitation to the band tail states. The deep red emission is tied to the Fe3+, and the exponential rise in the UV excitation efficiency of this centre is discussed in the context of the band-tail model.