Sediment OSL planning
Sampling design, light-safe collection, quartz signal screening, dose-recovery planning, and protocol suitability for burial questions.
Laboratory
Luminescence & Geochronology Laboratory
Feasibility review, study design, sample planning, OSL and feldspar-method research, dose-rate strategy, and comparative chronological validation.
Overview
Chronological work begins with context and sample history.
Stella Nova evaluates luminescence projects through depositional or manufacturing context, collection history, mineral fractions, light exposure, environmental dose rate, independent chronological controls, and the decision the result must support. Projects are classified as routine-method support, feasibility research, or experimental method development before acceptance.
Feldspar IRSL & pIRIR
Signal stability, residual dose, bleaching behavior, anomalous fading, dose response, and comparative protocol design.
Dose-rate strategy
Environmental sampling, radionuclide measurement planning, water-content assumptions, geometry, cosmic contribution, and uncertainty structure.
Volcanic-material feasibility
Experimental characterization of mineral fractions or associated materials with independently constrained comparison samples.
Available work
Project scope is matched to the evidence available.
Review of the research question, material, context, collection status, light exposure, likely signal system, and independent controls.
Deliverable: written feasibility classification, sampling requirements, limitations, and recommended next step.Field protocol, sample placement, shielding, environmental samples, custody, documentation, comparison samples, and decision thresholds.
Deliverable: project-specific sampling and documentation plan.Signal characterization, dose response, preheat behavior, dose recovery, residuals, bleaching, fading, and protocol comparison.
Deliverable: analytical record, plots or tables, method interpretation, and supported reporting boundary.Comparison against independently dated, historically constrained, stratigraphically bounded, or otherwise controlled material.
Deliverable: validation report stating supported materials, protocol, uncertainty, and limits.Sample acceptance
The feasibility review requires a complete chronological record.
Context
Depositional, stratigraphic, architectural, manufacturing, or surface-exposure history.
Collection history
Light control, packaging, orientation, storage, custody, contamination, and any later exposure.
Independent control
Radiocarbon, dendrochronology, documentary date, diagnostic context, stratigraphic boundary, or other comparison.
Permissions and use
Ownership, collection authority, destructive preparation, publication, repository, and data-access terms.
Luminescence feasibility intake
Submit the chronological question before collecting or shipping a sample.
Provide the material, provenance, depositional context, collection status, light exposure, independent controls, sample count, dose-rate information, permissions, and required timeline.