The presence of spurious emission heavily affects thermoluminescence measurements, and attempts were made to identify its causes and to circumvent or eliminate it. Samples showing spurious TL, as well as samples with an excellent thermoluminescent behaviour have been analyzed by means of DTA-TG (Differential Thermal Analysis-Thermogravimetric Analysis) and X-ray diffraction. It has been found that more than one kind of spurious thermoluminescence exists, and that calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, organic matter and moisture cannot be considered as a general source of spurious TL. Where spurious emission is present, the magnetic fraction of the sample is heavily affected, while in the low magnetic susceptibility fraction a reduction of such emission is obtained.
