地質學方面有關熱釋光的研究最早可以把時間拉到西元19 世紀末期年西方科學家對螢石的研究，除了螢石之外方解石也是一種很好的熱發光磷光體。地質學上的應用是熱發光現象最早的應用之一，在20 世紀初期對岩石和研究太空隕石進行熱發光測量，地質樣品天然熱發光的特性和發光強度與樣品所含的磷光體有關，也與樣品輻射照射時間、輻射照射期間實際吸收的劑量及其所經歷的溫度情況有關。為了做出正確的判斷，還需要結合動力學、發射頻譜、礦物類型、放射性核種、熱發光靈敏度等方面的數據。也藉由運用固體發光的技術，可以來探討這個地球的歷史，也可以遍及到宇宙來讓我們了解其中的奧秘。

The earliest research about thermoluminescence in geology is fluorite in the late 19 century; in addition to fluorite, calcite is also an ideal thermoluminescent phosphor. The application in geology is one of the earliest application for thermoluminescence phenomenon, scientists performed thermoluminescent measurement on rocks and aerolites in the early 20 century. The characteristics of geological sample are related to luminescence intensity and phosphor of sample, it also has correlation
with irradiation time of sample, absorbed dose and temperature during irradiation. In order to make correct judgements, we need to reference the data of dynamics, emission spectrum, mineral type, radionuclide
and thermoluminescent sensitivity and so on. In this way, we can investigate not only history of the earth but also the mystery of universe by utilizing solid luminescence technique.