Abstract
Optical dating methods were applied to eolian quartz and feldspar grains taken from near-surface locations in the Mojave Desert in southern Nevada, U.S.A. Three separate sites, all believed to have originated from the same geological event were sampled. Multiple aliquot methods as well as a single aliquot method (the ‘single aliquot regeneration, added dose’ or SARA technique) were applied. Variations on these methods included different pre-heat treatments for the additive dose technique and optical and thermal resets for the SARA technique. An automated routine was developed for use with the SARA analyses, and a new method of correcting for partial bleaching was also developed and tested. The greatest variations in results were seen with the multiple aliquot methods. Mean ages varied from 7.8±0.7 ka for the SARA technique applied to quartz to 6.1±1.6 ka for the SARA technique applied to feldspar samples. Results of the multiple aliquot technique using quartz was 7.4±2.9 ka and 7.4±4.0 ka for the 220°C pre-heat for 5 min and 160°C pre-heat for 16 h, respectively.