EPR dating of sediments in the region of Iguape - Cananéia, Brazil

Abstract

Dating of sediments was performed by physics method in this work. Natural radioactivity is present in sediments, and this method is based on the measurement of energy of radiation stored in the solid. Gamma irradiation of sediments create deffects in quartz structure that stores energy by the absorption of radiation. In the present work, Icapara sediment dating was done by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy method. The intensity of EPR signal corresponding to the number of lattice defects with an unpaired electron in sediment quartz could be measured to estimate the accumulated dose of natural radiation and to calculate the geologic age. Located in the region of Iguape at southeast coast of São Paulo State, Icapara is a large sand terrace that was formed due to sea level fluctation that occurred more than 130 thousand years ago. Samples were taken from a point about 9 - 10 meters above the current control of the sea. Ages of 38,000 ±12,000 and 46,000 ± 7,000 years were obtained in this study by EPR analysis that are correlated with the Quaternary Period.