The main difference between optical dating and thermoluminescence dating is that optical dating is used to date minerals that have been exposed to light and thermoluminescence is used to date minerals that have been exposed to heat.

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Optical dating is based on the fact that minerals such as quartz and feldspar accumulate trapped electrons over time when exposed to light, and the accumulated electrons can be measured to determine when the sample was last exposed to sunlight. Thermoluminescence dating, on the other hand, is based on the fact that minerals such as pottery, burnt flint, and volcanic rocks accumulate trapped electrons when they are heated, and these electrons can be released as light when the sample is subsequently heated.

The Main Difference Between Optical Dating and Thermoluminescence Dating Is