Is X-ray core scanning non-destructive? Assessing the implications for optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of sediments

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating is widely used to date clastic deposits, including those collected by coring. X-ray scanning of cores has become popular because of the rapidly acquired, high-resolution information it gives about optical, radiographic and elemental variations. Additionally, X-ray scanning is widely viewed as a non-destructive method. However, such instruments use an intense X-ray beam that irradiates the split core to enable both X-radiographic and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. This irradiation will influence the optically stimulated luminescence signal in the sediments. This study determines the radiation dose delivered to sediments in a core during an X-ray scan, and assesses the implications for studies wishing to combine X-ray scanning and OSL dating.