The characteristics of (LiF)-Li-nat.,7:Mg,Cu,P thermoluminescent detectors exposed to high-energy C-12 (165 MeV/nucleon) ions and Co-66 gamma-rays have been investigated. Through a careful analysis of the glow curves by the GlowFit program, it is found that the relative amplitude of satellite peaks 3, 5, 6 and 7 to peak 4, measured after irradiated with high-energy C-12 ions, is higher than that with Co-60 gamma-rays for both types of TL, detectors. It is observed that "(LiF)-Li-nat.,7:Mg,Cu,P thermoluminescent detectors would also exhibit a good linear dose response when the delivered dose of high-energy C-12 ions is in the range from 100 mGy to 1600 mGy. Furthermore, the relative efficiency of the (LiF)-Li-nat.,7:Mg,Cu,P thermoluminescent detectors is independent of the absorbed dose in the linear dose response range. Compared to previously published data, the relative efficiency of the (LiF)-Li-7:Mg,Cu,P TL detectors decreases with increasing LET values. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.