ESR studies of E ' centres in geological flint

摘要

Properties of E' centres of high geological age in flint from different locations have been studied. ESR spectra of gamma -irradiated samples of heated and unheated Silurian and Eocene flint show thermally unstable components. The spectrum of one species could be simulated using the g values: 2.00164, 2.00059, and 2.00046, Two others deliver ESR-signals at g = 2.0015 and 2.0012, respectively. These unstable components cannot be identified with any known E' centres. About 50% of the ESR intensity of the E' centres in unheated flint induced by artificial gamma -rays is thermally stable. This effect is probably due to a steady state and might be useful for dating of unburned flint tools ("skinflint dating"). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. [References: 17]