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Radionuclides

Importing from external files

For convenience, the user can import radionuclides from external files. This will automatically create measurements in the online database. The files have to follow the templates which can be downloaded here:

Uploading radionuclide data

Download CSV templates and prepare your files. Make sure that CSV separators are not changed. Dot should be used as a decimal separator and coma as a column separator. create new project and open records Template with radionuclides
create new project and open records DRAC template
Click "New" and create a new project or enter existing one. To enter project click "Open records"
create new project and open records Template with radionuclides
Click "Browse" and select your data files. Note that you can select and upload many files at the same time.
create new project and open records create new project and open records Select and upload files
After uploading files, μRate transfers data automatically. DRAC fields will be updated, and you should check differences between fields.
create new project and open records Successfully imported records

Manual radionuclides specification

Radionuclides can be provided in various formats. This can be done by specifying the values (mu_U238, mu_Th232, mu_K40 or mu_K2O) and their uncertainties (sigma_U238, sigma_Th232, sigma_K40 or sigma_K2O). The units of these quantities can be set to Bq/kg or concentrations of U (in ppm), Th (in ppm) and K (in % K or % K2O). # - can be used as a comment line. For example (Listing 1) data obtained from an HPGe or an NaI scintillation spectrometer will provide radioactivity of 238U and 232Th decay chains (if the sample is in secular equilibrium) and 40K. Often, this will be reported in Bq per kg by laboratories which measure low-level radioactivities. Listing 1: Specifying mean decay chain U-238, Th-232 and K-40 values given in Bq per kg.
Examples:
Listing 1: Specifying mean decay chain U-238, Th-232 and K-40 values given in Bq per kg 

# mean decay chain U-238, Th-232 and K-40 values given in Bq per kg
units: Bq_per_kg
mu_U238: 20
mu_Th132: 20
mu_K40: 100
sigma_U238: 20
sigma_Th132: 20
sigma_K40: 10
A number of measurement methods provide U, Th and K concentrations. This is typically expressed in ppm for U and Th, and in % for K. This can be specified as provided in Listing 2.
Listing 2: Specifying U, Th and K values given in ppm, ppm and % respectively 
# U, Th and K values given in ppm, ppm and % respectively
units: concentration
mu_U: 20
mu_Th: 20
mu_K: 10
sigma_U: 20
sigma_Th: 20
sigma_K: 10
Frequently, K concentration is expressed through % K2O. This can be specified as in Listing 3.
Listing 3: Specifying U, Th and K values given in ppm, ppm and % K2O respectively 
# U, Th and K2O values given in ppm, ppm and % respectively
units: concentration
mu_U: 20
mu_Th: 20
mu_K2O: 10
sigma_U: 20
sigma_Th: 20
sigma_K2O: 10
Many systems will measure α radiation (Aitken, 1985a), β radiation (Ankjærgaard and Murray, 2007; Sanderson, 1988) or both (Cunningham et al., 2018; Tudyka et al., 2018). Those systems will end up with correlated uncertainties that can be described with a covariance matrix. In practice, this will decrease dose rate uncertainty.
Listing 4: Specifying decay chain U-238, Th-232 and K-40 values given in Bq per kg 
# mean decay chain U-238, Th-232 and K-40 values given in Bq per kg as a matrix
X: [20, 20, 20]
# X covariance matrix
X_cov: [[10, 0, 0],[0, 10, 0],[0, 0, 10]]

Database backup and restore your projects and records

To export your database on your local drive go to 'Options' and click 'Export'. This will export all your current records with projects. To restore your database go to 'Options' than browse, select and upload your database. Note that database records and projects will be added to your current profile.

Test files

For checking μRate software, the user can download a test file - quasirandom_DRAC_Input.csv and subsequently output a comparison file - quasirandom DRACv1.2 output vs uRATE.xlsx file. Processing the test file will take ca. 50 sec. These results can be pasted to quasirandom DRACv1.2 output vs. uRATE.xlsx file to quickly check the current μRate version.
Notes:
1. that test file ONLY test compatible options that are implemented identically (or very similarly) in μRate and DRAC.
2. user might need to replace (','-commas to ' '-spaces) separators in .csv files for pasting data into DRAC.
3. DRAC file is prepared with separate internal and external dose rates to be calculated individually. This is made to maintain the same number of records on importing to μRate.

References for dose rate calculation

Adamiec G and Aitken MJ, 1998, Dose-rate conversion factors: update. Ancient TL 16(2): 37–50

Aitken MJ, 1985a, Thermoluminescence Dating. Academic Press: London.

Aitken, M. J., 1985a, Alpha particle effectiveness: numerical relationship between systems. Ancient TL 3(3), 22–5.

Aitken MJ and Bowman SGE, 1975, Thermoluminescent dating: assessment of alpha particle contribution. Archaeometry 17(1): 132–138, DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-4754.1975.tb00127.x

Aitken MJ and Xie J, 1990, Moisture correction for annual gamma dose. Ancient TL

Ankjærgaard C and Murray AS, 2007, Total beta and gamma dose rates in trapped charge dating based on beta counting. Radiation Measurements 42(3): 352–359, DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2006.12.007

Bell WT, 1979, Attenuation Factors for the Absorbed Radiation Dose in Quartz Inclusions for Thermoluminescence Dating. Ancient TL (8): 2–13

Bell WT, 1980, Alpha dose attenuation in quartz grains for thermoluminescence dating. Ancient TL (12): 9–13

Bluszcz A, 2001, Dose4Win. Gliwice

Brennan BJ, 2003, Beta doses to spherical grains. Radiation Measurements. Pergamon 37(4–5): 299–303, DOI: 10.1016/S1350-4487(03)00011-8

Brennan BJ, Lyons RG and Phillips SW, 1991, Attenuation of alpha particle track dose for spherical grains. International Journal of Radiation Applications and Instrumentation. Part D. Nuclear Tracks and Radiation Measurements. Pergamon 18(1–2): 249–253, DOI: 10.1016/1359-0189(91)90119-3

Brennecka GA, Amelin Y and Kleine T, 2018, Uranium isotope ratios of Muonionalusta troilite and complications for the absolute age of the IVA iron meteorite core. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. Elsevier 490: 1–10, DOI: 10.1016/J.EPSL.2018.03.010

Chruścińska A, Cicha A, Kijek N, Palczewski P, Przegiętka K and Sulkowska-Tuszyńska K, 2014, Luminescence dating of bricks from the gothic Saint James Church in Toruń. Geochronometria 41(4): 352–360, DOI: 10.2478/s13386-013-0165-y

Colarossi D, Duller GAT, Roberts HM, Tooth S and Botha GA, 2020, A comparison of multiple luminescence chronometers at Voordrag, South Africa. Quaternary Geochronology 60: 101094, DOI: 10.1016/j.quageo.2020.101094

Cresswell AJ, Carter J and Sanderson DCW, 2018, Dose rate conversion parameters: Assessment of nuclear data. Radiation Measurements, 120, 195–201, DOI: 10.1016/J.RADMEAS.2018.02.007

Cunningham AC, Murray AS, Armitage SJ and Autzen M, 2018, High-precision natural dose rate estimates through beta counting. Radiation Measurements, 120, 209–214., DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2018.04.008

Duda RO, Hart PE and Stork DG, 2001, Pattern Classification 2nd Edition. New York: John Wiley

Duval M, Guilarte V, Campana I, Arnold LJ, Miguens L, Iglesias J, Gonzalez-Sierra S, 2018, Quantifying hydrofluoric acid etching of quartz and feldspar coarse grains based on weight loss estimates: implication for ESR and luminescence dating studies. Ancient TL 36(1), 14.

Durcan JA, King GE and Duller GAT, 2015, DRAC: Dose Rate and Age Calculator for trapped charge dating. QQuaternary Geochronology, 28, 54–61, DOI: 10.1016/J.QUAGEO.2015.03.012

Duval M and Martin L, 2019, ESR dating of fossil teeth: In which extent the thickness of adjacent tissues should be taken into account in the external beta dose rate evaluation? Geochronometria 46(1): 102–110, DOI: 10.1515/geochr-2015-0105

Fleming S, 1979, Thermoluminescence techniques in archaeology. Clarendon Press: Oxford.

Fuchs M and Lang A, 2009, Luminescence dating of hillslope deposits—A review. Geomorphology 109(1–2): 17–26, DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2008.08.025

Goedicke C, 1984, Microscopic investigations of the quartz etching technique for TL dating. Nuclear Tracks and Radiation Measurements (1982), 9(2), 87–93.DOI: 10.1016/0735-245X(84)90026-7

Grün R, 2009, The “AGE” program for the calculation of luminescence age estimates. Ancient TL 27: 45–46

Guérin G, Mercier N and Adamiec G, 2011, Dose-rate conversion factors: Update. Ancient TL 29(1): 5–8

Guérin G, Mercier N, Nathan R, Adamiec G and Lefrais Y, 2012, On the use of the infinite matrix assumption and associated concepts: A critical review. Radiation Measurements 47(9) 778–785, DOI: 10.1016/J.RADMEAS.2012.04.004

Guérin G, Mercier N, 2011, Determining gamma dose rates by field gamma spectroscopy in sedimentary media: Results of Monte Carlo simulations. Radiation Measurements 46(2) 190–5, DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2012.05.004

Kulig G, 2005, Erstellung einer Auswertesoftware zur Altersbestimmung mittels Lumineszenzverfahren unter spezieller Berücksichtigung des Einflusses radio- aktiver Ungleichgewichte in der 238U-Zerfallsreihe. BSc thesis, Technische Bergakademie Freiberg.

Liritzis I, Stamoulis K, Papachristodoulou C and Ioannides K, 2013, A re-evaluation of radiation dose-rate conversion factors. Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry 13(3): 1–15

Lomax J, Fuchs M, Antoine P, Rousseau D-D, Lagroix F, Hatté C, Taylor SN, Till JL, Debret M, Moine O and Jordanova D, 2019, A luminescence-based chronology for the Harletz loess sequence, Bulgaria. Boreas 48(1): 179–194, DOI: 10.1111/bor.12348

Martin L, Incerti S, Mercier N, 2015a, Comparison of DosiVox simulation results with tabulated data and standard calculations. Ancient TL 33(2) 1–9.

Martin L, Incerti S, Mercier N, 2015b, DosiVox: Implementing Geant 4-based software for dosimetry simulations relevant to luminescence and ESR dating techniques. Ancient TL 33(1), 1–10.

Mejdahl V, 1979, Thermoluminescence dating: beta-dose attenuation in quartz grains. Archaeometry 21(1): 61–72 DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-4754.1979.tb00241.x

Nathan RP, Mauz B, 2008, On the dose-rate estimate of carbonate-rich sediments for trapped charge dating, Radiation Measurements. 43(1), 14–25, DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2007.12.012

Porat N, Faerstein G, Medialdea A, Murray AS, 2015, Re-examination of common extraction and purification methods of quartz and feldspar for luminescence dating. Ancient TL 33(1) 22–30

Poręba G, Tudyka K, Szymak A, Pluta J, Rocznik J, Świątkowski J, Osadnik R, Moska P, 2022, Evaluating the effect of HF acid etching on quartz grains using microscope image analysis, laser diffraction, and weight loss particle size estimate, Geochronometria. 49, 1-8, DOI: 10.2478/geochr-2022-0001

Prescott JR and Stephan LG, 1982, The contribution of cosmic radiation to the environmental dose for thermoluminescence dating. Latitude, altitude and depth dependences. PACT 6: 17–25

Prescott JR and Hutton JT, 1988, Cosmic ray and gamma ray dosimetry for TL and ESR. International Journal of Radiation Applications and Instrumentation. Part D. Nuclear Tracks and Radiation Measurements, 14(1–2), 223–237, DOI: 10.1016/1359-0189(88)90069-6

Prescott JR and Hutton JT, 1994, Cosmic ray contributions to dose rates for luminescence and ESR dating: Large depths and long-term time variations. Radiation Measurements, 23(2–3), 497–500, DOI: 10.1016/1350-4487(94)90086-8

Prescott JR and Habermehl MA, 2008, Luminescence dating of spring mound deposits in the southwestern Great Artesian Basin, northern South Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 55(2), 167–81, DOI: 10.1080/08120090701689340

Richter D, Mercier N, Valladas H, Jaubert J, Texier P-J, Brugal J-P, Kervazo B, Reyss J-L, Joron J-L and Wagner GA, 2007, Thermoluminescence dating of heated flint from the Mousterian site of Bérigoule, Murs, Vaucluse, France. Journal of Archaeological Science 34(4): 532–539, DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2006.06.006

Richter M, Tsukamoto S and Long H, 2019, ESR dating of Chinese loess using the quartz Ti centre: A comparison with independent age control. Quaternary International S1040618218308450, DOI: 10.1016/j.quaint.2019.04.003

Sanderson DCW, 1988, Thick source beta counting (TSBC): A rapid method for measuring beta dose-rates. International Journal of Radiation Applications and Instrumentation. Part D. Nuclear Tracks and Radiation Measurements 14(1–2): 203–207, DOI: 10.1016/1359-0189(88)90065-9

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Tudyka K, Bluszcz A, Poręba G, Miłosz S, Adamiec G, Kolarczyk A, Kolb T, Lomax J and Fuchs M, 2020, Increased dose rate precision in combined α and β counting in the μDose system - a probabilistic approach to data analysis. Radiation Measurements 134: 106310, DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2020.106310

Tudyka K, Miłosz S, Adamiec G, Bluszcz A, Poręba G, Paszkowski Ł and Kolarczyk A, 2018, μDose: A compact system for environmental radioactivity and dose rate measurement. Radiation Measurements 118: 8–13, DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2018.07.016

Uvarova YA, Kyser TK, Geagea ML and Chipley D, 2014, Variations in the uranium isotopic compositions of uranium ores from different types of uranium deposits. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. Pergamon 146: 1–17, DOI: 10.1016/j.gca.2014.09.034

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Wintle AG and Adamiec G, 2017, Optically stimulated luminescence signals from quartz: A review. Radiation Measurements 98: 10–33, DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2017.02.003

Wintle AG and Murray AS, 2006, A review of quartz optically stimulated luminescence characteristics and their relevance in single-aliquot regeneration dating protocols. Radiation Measurements 41(4): 369–391, DOI: 10.1016/j.radmeas.2005.11.001

Yokoyama Y, Nguyen HV, Quaegebeur J-P and Poupeau G, 1982, Some problems encountered in the evaluation of annual dose-rate in the electron spin resonance dating of fossil bones. PACT 6: 103–115

Zimmerman DW, 1971, Thermoluminescent Dating Using Fine Grains From Pottery. Archaeometry 13(1) 29–52, DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-4754.1971.tb00028.x