  The important question of absolute dating of seismic phenomena has been the
study of several researchers over the past few decades. The relevant research
has concentrated on 'energy traps' of minerals, such as quartz or feldspar,
which may accumulate chronological information associated with tectonic
deformations. However, the produced knowledge so far, is not sufficient to
allow the absolute dating of faults. Today, Luminescence and Electron Spin
Resonance (ESR) dating methods could be seen as offering high potential for
dating past seismic deformed features on timescales ranging from some years to
even several million years. This preliminary study attempts to establish the
potential of three different carbonate fault zones hosting fault mirror-like
structures, to be used in luminescence and ESR dating, based on their
microstructural, mineralogical and palaeo-maximum temperatures analysis. The
results indicated that the collected samples can be considered datable
fault-rock materials, since they contain suitable minerals (quartz) for
luminescence and ESR dating, have experienced repeated cataclastic deformation
and have been subject to various physical and chemical processes as well as
pressure and temperature conditions.
