Late Quaternary lake level record of Orog Nuur,southern Mongolia,revealed by optical dating of paleo-shorelines

The Late Quaternary hydroclimatic evolution of lake systems in Mongolia remains unclear. Here we present a record of lake level variations at Orog Nuur in the Valley of Gobi Lakes in southern Mongolia, since the last interglaciation, based on paleo-shoreline dating using quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and K-feldspar post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (pIRIR) signals. Due to feldspar contamination that could not be eliminated, the OSL signals of quartz single-aliquots (SA), except for two Holocene samples, were unsuitable for dating and a double SA regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol was used for the quartz fraction of these two samples. The pIR₅₀IR₁₇₀ and pIR₂₀₀IR₂₉₀ signals of K-feldspar SA were used to date Holocene samples and old samples (>100 ka), respectively, with the SAR protocol. To determine the bleaching condition of the pIR₂₀₀IR₂₉₀ signals, the first pIRIR dating of K-feldspar single-grains of lake shoreline sediments in Mongolia was performed. The equivalent doses of K-feldspar grains show normal distributions, suggesting that the pIR₂₀₀IR₂₉₀ signals are well-bleached. Overall, the results, combined with those of previous studies, show that a mega-lake developed at 56 m above the modern lake level (a.m.l.) during MIS 5e (124.2 ± 6.8–114.7 ± 8.0 ka). Holocene high-stands occurred in the last deglaciation–early Holocene (11.1 ± 1.0 ka) at 23 m a.m.l. and in the mid-Holocene (6.7 ± 0.8–3.3 ± 0.4 ka) at 20–14 m a.m.l. The dimensions of the paleo-lakes were recovered, and a hydrological index indicates that the effective moisture during MIS 5e and the mid-Holocene was 10.7 times and 3.6–5.0 times larger than today, respectively. Finally, the possible mechanisms behind the lake level history are discussed based on correlation with independent paleoclimatic records.     

Direct measurement of the fast component of quartz optically stimulated luminescence and implications for the accuracy of optical dating

The usual practice in optical dating is to derive an equivalent dose (D_e) (and hence age) from integration of the initial part of the measured optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) signal. This ‘bulk’ OSL signal is known to comprise several semi-independent components, each of which decays at different rates during measurement, and thus contributes a different proportion to the bulk signal as measurement time progresses. Data are presented here which show a strong dependence of D_e on the bulk signal integration interval, with reduced D_e for later signal integration intervals resulting from lower medium component D_e values. This dependence leads to two problems: (i) deciding which signal integral to choose, and (ii) the possibility that all bulk signals will provide systematic age underestimation due to medium component signal contributions. Isolating the fast component of the bulk OSL signal provides a solution to both problems and several methods of achieving this are assessed; an efficient new method is described which is incorporated in to standard single-aliquot regenerative-dose measurement sequences. This method involves the direct measurement of the fast-component signal using infrared (830 nm) stimulation of quartz at 160 °C, prior to the standard bulk OSL measurement with 470 nm stimulation. It is shown that the measured quartz infrared stimulated luminescence signals resolve pure fast-component signals and provide D_e estimates consistent with those from signal deconvolution. This approach can only be applied to samples with relatively bright luminescence emissions, but in these cases is expected to provide a more robust estimate of palaeodose.     

Age comparison by luminescence using quartz and feldspar on core HPQK01 from the Pearl River delta in China

Reliable chronology is critical for reconstructing estuarine delta process. In this study, detailed chronological framework has been performed on a core HPQK01 (52 m in depth) from the central Pearl River delta (PRD) of China. Both quartz OSL and feldspar post-IR IRSL (pIRIR) methods for late Pleistocene sediments, as well as radiocarbon dating for Holocene sediments, were applied to date the core. Results show that quartz OSL ages range from 125 ± 18 ka to 58 ± 6 ka, and that all of them were minimum ages due to the OSL signal saturation. Feldspar pIR₂₀₀IR₂₉₀ protocol shows some overestimation in dose recovery test, with the recovered to the given ratio of 1.2, while a ratio of around 1 was obtained for feldspar pIR₅₀IR₂₅₀ signals. Robust ages have been obtained from feldspar fading corrected pIR₅₀IR₂₅₀ dating with ages ranging from 150 ± 17 ka to 98 ± 12 ka. AMS ¹⁴C results suggest that subtidal-intertidal zone was deposited during the middle Holocene from 8.21 ± 0.19 cal ka BP to 4.99 ± 0.25 cal ka BP. The sedimentology of core HPQK01 record two marine transgressive-regressive cycles. Based on the dating results, the lower fluvial sediment unit (T2) could be correlated to marine isotope stage (MIS) 6, and the lower marine unit (M2) was deposited during MIS 5. A sedimentary hiatus occurred with age range of from MIS 4 to MIS 2. Since middle Holocene, another marine stratum (M1) has been accumulated. Overall, our findings suggest that feldspar pIRIR dating method has the potential to establish the Quaternary chronostratigraphic framework of the PRD for samples with ages within 150 ka.     

Comparison of paired quartz OSL and feldspar post-IR IRSL dose distributions in poorly bleached fluvial sediments from South Africa

A comparative study using quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and feldspar post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (post-IR IRSL) was undertaken on Quaternary fluvial sediments from an unnamed tributary of the Moopetsi River in South Africa. The aim is to assess whether the post-IR IRSL signal can be used to date incompletely bleached sediments. Several post-IR IRSL signals using varying stimulation and preheat temperatures were investigated; of these the post-IR IRSL₂₂₅ signal was deemed most appropriate for dating because it bleached most rapidly. The feldspar post-IR IRSL₂₂₅ equivalent dose (D_e) values from this site are consistently larger than those from quartz OSL, probably due to differences in the bleaching characteristics of the two signals. Additionally, the post-IR IRSL₂₂₅ D_e values within a sample showed less variation in precision than the quartz D_e data, possibly due to greater averaging between grains in the feldspar small aliquots. The agreement between ages based on the OSL and post-IR IRSL₂₂₅ signals was better for younger samples (<20 ka) than for older ones (>50 ka); the cause of this variation is unclear.     

Quartz OSL sensitivity from dating data for provenance analysis of pleistocene and holocene fluvial sediments from lowland Amazonia

The properties of the quartz luminescence signal have been shown to be a useful tool for sediment provenance analysis. These provenance studies are based on the sensitivity of the fast optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) component, which is also used for sediment dating. Besides the widespread occurrence of quartz in terrigenous sediments, OSL sensitivity can be acquired using relatively fast and low-cost measurements compared to sediment provenance analysis methods based on accessory minerals or isotopes. Additionally, laboratories worldwide already have an extensive database of recorded quartz OSL signals primarily measured for dating studies, and these data could potentially be repurposed for provenance analysis of Quaternary sedimentary systems through OSL sensitivity calculation. Here, we investigate the use of OSL quartz signals measured in sediment dating surveys for OSL sensitivity calculation and evaluation of changes in sediment sources. The OSL sensitivity was calculated and expressed as %BOSL_F, which corresponds to the percentage of the fast OSL component signal (blue stimulation) to the total OSL curve; such approach is advantageous as it does not require any normalisation of the measured signal intensity to dose or aliquot size (weight). Three sets of samples from Amazonian fluvial sediments are investigated: two sets of Holocene floodplain sediments representing different sediment sources to the Amazonian fluvial system, i.e. the Amazon craton and the Andes Mountain belt, and a set of samples from the Içá Formation, a paleo-fluvial system active during the Pleistocene whose provenance is not fully known. Results show that the quartz OSL signal derived from the first test doses (T_n) applied in dating protocols had the best performance for %BOSL_F calculation when compared to results from a measurement protocol designed specifically for sediment provenance analysis. There is significant correlation (R² = 88) between sensitivities derived from T_n and a specific OSL provenance analysis protocol. The proposed approach indicates to be appropriate for sediment provenance analysis since it is able to discriminate signal differences among samples from known sources: Brazilian cratonic quartz yield high sensitivity values (mean %BOSL_F >70), in contrast to the relatively lower values from Andean quartz (mean %BOSL_F <50). In general, quartz OSL sensitivities from the Içá Formation samples fall into the same range of modern sediments transported by the Içá and Japurá rivers draining the Andean Eastern Cordillera of Colombia and Ecuador. We also observe a decrease in quartz OSL sensitivity during the Holocene, notably after 4 ka, with younger deposits showing lower sensitivity. Sediment provenance variations are discussed in terms of watershed rearrangement and/or precipitation-driven changes during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene across Amazonia.     

Luminescence dating of marine sediments from the Sea of Japan using quartz OSL and polymineral pIRIR signals of fine grains

Luminescence dating has long been used for chronological constraints on marine sediments due to the ubiquitous dating materials (quartz and feldspar grains) and its applicability over a relatively long time range. However, one of the main difficulties in luminescence dating on marine sediments is partial bleaching, which causes age overestimations. Especially, partial bleaching is typically difficult to be detected in the fine grain fraction (FG) of marine sediments. The recently developed feldspar post-IR IRSL (pIRIR) protocol can detect non-fading signals and thus avoid feldspar signal instability. In the current study, fine grains were extracted from a gravity core in the northern Sea of Japan, and the aim is to test the feasibility of using different luminescence signals with various bleaching rates to explore the bleaching conditions of fine grain fraction in marine sediments. The results suggest that the quartz OSL signal and polymineral pIRIR signals at stimulation temperatures of 150 °C and 225 °C (pIRIR₁₅₀ and pIRIR₂₂₅) of FG were well bleached prior to deposition. The OSL ages were used to establish a chronology for this sedimentary core and the resulting age-depth relationship is self-consistent and comparable with radiocarbon dates. We conclude that different luminescence signals with various bleaching rates can be used to test the bleaching conditions of fine grain fraction in marine sediments; and the luminescence dating can be applied to marine sediments with great potential.     

MET-post-IR IRSL luminescence dating of cobbles buried in fluvial terraces in the Northern Chinese Tian Shan

Cobbles can be used as an alternative to the conventionally employed sand-sized mineral luminescence dating. In piedmont environments, cobbles are much more abundant than sand-sized material. The IRSL₅₀ signal has been widely used in previous studies due to its greater sensitivity to exposure events. However, it is well known that the low temperature IRSL signal is more prone to fade than elevated temperature post-IR IRSL signal. In this study, to test the reliability and applicability of cobble sub-surface elevated temperature IRSL luminescence dating, six light-color granite cobbles and two sand-sized samples from silty sand lens were collected from a high terrace of Manas River on the northern piedmont of Chinese Tian Shan. A modified multi-elevated-temperature post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (MET-post-IR IRSL) protocol was applied. The age-temperature (A-T) plateau of MET-post-IR IRSL measurement was combined with the conventional age-depth (A-D) plateau in luminescence-depth profile to evaluate the resetting and fading of MET-post-IR IRSL signals. Uncertainties of grain-sizes of K-feldspar within solidified slices were also explored by μ-XRF mapping of potassium content. The A-T plateau was identified between MET-post-IR IRSL₁₇₀ and MET-post-IR IRSL₂₂₅ signals of one cobble, which suggested completeness of bleaching before burial and negligible anomalous fading during burial. This cobble yielded MET-post-IR IRSL₂₂₅ ages of 15.8 ± 2.6 ka and 19.0 ± 3.2 ka for top and bottom side, respectively. These MET-post-IR IRSL₂₂₅ ages were consistent with independent coarse-grained quartz MAM OSL ages (15.7 ± 3.6 ka and 14.8 ± 2.6 ka) of two sand-sized samples. The MET-post-IR IRSL₂₂₅ age of 16.0 ± 1.2 ka for the bottom side of another cobble was also consistent with the independent age, even without the A-T plateau. It was inferred to be caused by anomalous fading of MET-post-IR IRSL signals other than that stimulated at 225 °C by refering to the A-D plateau observed. Our results show that MET-post-IR IRSL measurement can be employed to determine the burial ages of cobbles. The A-T plateau, complemented with the A-D plateau, could be used to assess the reliability of burial ages of cobble luminescence dating from the view of bleaching and fading.     

Testing the application of post IR IRSL dating to Iron- and Viking-age ceramics and heated stones from Denmark

In this study we test, for the first time, the potential of an elevated temperature post-IR IR (pIRIR₂₉₀) SAR protocol for the dating of young heated artefacts. Seven heated stones and seven potshards were collected from three different archaeological sites in Denmark: one site from the early Pre-Roman Iron Age 200 BC to AD 100, and two from the Viking period between AD 800 and 1200.We first derive quartz OSL ages for these samples, to support the archaeological age control. The luminescence characteristics of the pIRIR₂₉₀ signal are then investigated; in particular the dose recovery ratios are shown to be close to unity. The performance of the feldspar pIRIR₂₉₀ protocol is then examined by comparing the pIRIR₂₉₀ ages with those based on the quartz OSL signal; the average ratio of pIRIR₂₉₀ to OSL ages is 1.14 ± 0.05 (n = 14) and there is some suggestion that the possible overestimation of the feldspar ages compared to quartz is only of significance for the heated stone samples. Nevertheless, there is no indication of incomplete heating of the stones; the ratios of D_e derived from the IR₅₀ and pIRIR₂₉₀ signals are independent of sample type, and consistent with complete resetting by heating. Comparison with the archaeological age control is not able to identify whether quartz or feldspar provides the most reliable dating signal.     

Luminescence dating of Holocene sediment cores from a wave-dominated and mountainous river delta in central Vietnam

Sediments of river deltas provide valuable records of past coastal environments. Optically-stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating has become an alternative to radiocarbon dating for constraining the sediment chronology in large deltas that allow for sufficient sunlight bleaching of sediments during the fluvial transport. However, its applicability to smaller deltas with mountainous riverine systems has not been confirmed yet. To check this, we examine multiple signals from two Holocene sediment cores in the wave-dominated Thu Bon River delta in central Vietnam. Two cores were collected, respectively, 3.9 km and 1.2 km inland from the present shoreline and both show a >-25-m thick succession of coarsening-upward mud to sand deposits. Coarse grains (180–250 μm in diameter) of quartz and K-feldspar, and fine grains (4–11 μm in diameter) of quartz and polymineral were extracted from the upper and lower parts of the cores for multi-grain measurements of quartz OSL, and of feldspar infrared-stimulated luminescence (IRSL) at 50 °C (IR₅₀) and post-IR IRSL at 175 °C (pIRIR₁₇₅) to determine burial ages. In addition, facies analysis and radiocarbon dating were conducted. The landward core consists of transgressive to early regressive estuarine and prodelta facies, which is overlain by a sandy beach-shoreface facies. The seaward core consists of a relatively simple shallowing-upward succession from muddy prodelta facies to sandy beach-shoreface facies. All luminescence ages except for pIRIR₁₇₅ of fine grains are mostly consistent with the radiocarbon ages. Instead, pIRIR₁₇₅ ages of fine grains are significantly overestimated with variable offsets. OSL and IR₅₀ of fine grains provide reasonable age estimates, as these grains were likely well bleached during the transport even along a short and steep mountainous river. Consistent age estimates of all signals from sand indicate that sand was well-bleached in the beach and shoreface owing to the frequent sediment reworking by waves and currents. These results support the hypothesis that luminescence dating is applicable to Holocene wave-dominated deltas and reiterate that comparing different luminescence signals is an effective way to check reliability of the age estimates in environments where the sunlight bleaching is not ensured.     

Validating post IR-IRSL dating on K-feldspars through comparison with quartz OSL ages

Recent developments have opened up the possibilities of using potassium feldspar for dating Pleistocene sediments; a stable (less-fading) part of the infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) signal can be selected by largely depleting the unstable part of the IR signal, using a combination of thermal and IR stimulation: post IR-IRSL dating (pIR-IRSL).This study aims to test the validity of pIR-IRSL dating on feldspars. We obtained pIR-IRSL ages on a large suite of samples from several locations in the Netherlands area, covering a wide range of depositional environments and ages. Age control was provided by quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages on the same samples; these ages were shown to accord with geological age constraints. Comparison with IRSL ages enabled us to evaluate the improvement that pIR-IRSL dating provides over conventional IRSL methods.The majority of feldspar ages obtained with pIR-IRSL showed good agreement with both the quartz OSL ages and the geological age constraints. Our study demonstrates that pIR-IRSL dating is more robust than conventional IRSL and should be the method of choice in feldspar luminescence dating of Pleistocene sediments.     

OSL dating of the AD 869 Jogan tsunami deposit,northeastern Japan

Sediments deposited by the AD 869 Jogan tsunami offer an opportunity to test the reliability of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of relatively old historical tsunami deposits. We collected a geoslicer sample from sand deposited on the Sendai Plain, northeastern Japan, by the Jogan tsunami and applied quartz OSL dating to it. We then compared the OSL ages with the known age of the tsunami event. In ascending order, the sedimentary sequence in the geoslicer sample consists of the beach–dune sand, lower peat, Jogan tsunami deposit, upper peat, pre-2011 paddy soil, and the 2011 tsunami deposit. To obtain equivalent dose (D_e,bulk), a standard single-aliquot renegerative-dose (SAR) protocol was applied to large aliquots of the 180–250 μm fraction of two samples from the beach–dune sand, and four samples from differing levels of the Jogan tsunami deposit. The OSL decay curves were dominated by the medium component; thus, for two samples from the Jogan deposit the fast-component OSL signal was isolated and used to determine the equivalent dose (D_e,fast). Using D_e,bulk, OSL ages of the tsunami deposit were underestimated by ∼40%, and even the beach–dune sand was dated younger than AD 869. In contrast, D_e,fast provided a robust age estimate with only slight underestimation. A pulse annealing test showed that the bulk and medium-component OSL signals were thermally unstable. The medium component in the natural OSL was clearly truncated in comparison to the regenerated OSL; the medium component is thus considered to be the main cause of the underestimated ages. Similar effects of a dominant medium-component OSL have been reported in tectonically active regions, which are also prone to tsunamis. The effect of this dominance should be carefully considered in quartz OSL dating of tsunami deposits.     

Testing the accuracy of OSL and pIR IRSL dating of young geoarchaeological sediments in coastal Peru

Luminescence dating of late Quaternary sediments in Peru is challenging, especially on the Peruvian coast. Earlier studies have shown that quartz grains often exhibit a thermally unstable, medium signal that caused the underestimation of Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) ages. InfraRed Stimulated Luminescence (IRSL) dating has shown to produce more reliable ages, depending, amongst other factors, on the age model (Central or Minimum Age Model), and the IRSL signal. IRSL dating of geoarchaeological sediments has, however, hardly been carried out, let along validated, against an independent age dataset. This dating approach is, nonetheless, the only promising way to date the geological substrate in which many of Peru's archaeological sites are buried. Peru contains some of the oldest and most important archaeological heritage sites, yet not much is known of the environmental context in which many of its early civilizations prospered. A better understanding of which luminescence method works best could therefore help in a better understanding of the geological-stratigraphical context of many of Peru's sites.To investigate this matter more fully, we compared the luminescence dating results of seven sediment samples from the top layer of the Lima alluvial fan and from geoarchaeological layers of the Maranga Complex (San Miguel, Lima), with an independent dataset of sixteen ¹⁴C ages. Our results showed that the quartz OSL ages always underestimated the expected ages due to a signal dominated by medium and slow components, and that the post-IR IRSL₂₂₅ (pIR IRSL₂₂₅) and IRSL₅₀ ages of K-feldspars, on basis of the Central Age Model (CAM), always overestimated the expected ages. The Minimum Age Model (MAM) on the other hand, correctly predicted the expected ages for the early Holocene, Lima alluvial fan sediments using the pIR IRSL₂₂₅ signal of K-feldspars, and the late Holocene, geoarchaeological ages using the IRSL₅₀ signal.     

Testing the use of range-finder OSL dating to inform field sampling and laboratory processing strategies

A newly developed range-finder luminescence dating method is applied to samples from the eastern Punjab region of Pakistan. Overbank sediments from this area are the subject of an ongoing project into the demise of the Harappan civilization about 4.2 ka and the range-finder technique was used to ascertain whether samples from three pits are from this part of the Holocene. Luminescence measurements of raw sample gave a signal dominated by feldspars, even when using a [post-IR] optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) signal. Following etching in hydrofluoric acid samples gave OSL signals characteristic of quartz and these were used to calculate the equivalent dose. The total dose rate was estimated from beta counting. Eight range-finder OSL ages extend from 4000 to 6600 years ago and are consistent with two radiocarbon ages from the same pits demonstrating that these sediments do straddle the period of interest for this project. The range-finder approach provides a rapid means of informing future field sampling campaigns.     

Luminescence dating of glaciolacustrine silt in overdeepened basin fills beyond the last interglacial

OSL and IRSL dating are applied to samples from a 152 m-long drill core to constrain the timing of three glaciolacustrine depositional periods within the infill of an overdeepened bedrock trough in the Lower Glatt valley, N Switzerland. The characterisation of the dose-response suggests that the polymineral IRSL₅₀ and pIRIR_180/225 signals are close to saturation, while quartz OSL ages are within the range of reliable dating. The demarcation of the upper quartz OSL dating limit, however, remains challenging. Dose-recovery tests performed with long storage periods were used to investigate the reliability of the high region of the dose-response curve. They suggest an upper limit for reliable dating of ∼400 Gy for these samples, which was considerably lower than the commonly used 2D₀ criterion. Lifetimes were calculated for the quartz OSL and the thermal stability of the signal is not considered as problematic for the determined ages. Allowing for a contribution from inherited dose due to partial bleaching, places the infill of the overdeepened valley within the penultimate glacial cycle (MIS6).     

Luminescence dating of cobbles from Pleistocene fluvial terrace deposits of the Ara River,Japan

Constraining the ages of fluvial terraces is essential to understanding fluvial responses to climate and sea-level changes and estimating uplift/incision. Luminescence dating of sand or silt grains from fluvial terrace deposits in Japan is difficult because sand layers are often absent from gravelly deposits, quartz grains are typically dominated by medium/slow components and/or contaminated by feldspars, and short transport distances and short residence times in riverbeds result in poor bleaching of luminescence signals. Luminescence dating of cobbles may overcome these difficulties, but few studies have applied this technique to fluvial terrace deposits. Here, we examine the utility of luminescence dating applied to three granodiorite cobbles from a late Pleistocene fluvial terrace deposit of the Ara River, Japan. We investigated variations of the infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) and post-IR IRSL signals with depth in each cobble. The IRSL and post-IR IRSL signals generally increase with depth, indicating that the cobbles were not completely bleached before deposition. Nonetheless, the IRSL ages of the cobble surfaces (19–17 ka) are consistent with the age of a tephra layer (16–15 ka) at the base of loess deposits overlying the terrace. In contrast, IRSL ages of sand-sized feldspar grains overestimate the depositional age because of incomplete bleaching, whereas silt-sized quartz grains greatly underestimate the depositional age, likely because of the thermal instability of the medium component. Our results demonstrate that luminescence dating of cobbles could provide a better understanding of fluvial systems in which luminescence dating of sand grains is difficult.     

Timing of Holocene lake highstands around Dawa Co in inner Tibetan Plateau: Comparison of quartz and feldspar luminescence dating with radiocarbon age

Lakes over the inner Tibetan Plateau (TP) are very sensitive to the regional environmental transformations and climate changes. Well-preserved lake sediments around these lakes provide critical geomorphological and sedimentary evidence that can be used to infer the past hydroclimate changes. In this study, a lacustrine section from a sandy shoreline (∼74 m above the modern lake) situated to the northwest of modern Dawa Co in the inner TP was investigated using both luminescence and radiocarbon dating methods. Our results demonstrated: (1) the quartz optically simulated luminescence (OSL) dating yielded much younger ages (∼4 ka) than that of the post-infrared IRSL (pIRIR) dating of the K-feldspar fraction; (2) fading test showed g-values ranging between 1.34 and 4.46%/decade for quartz OSL signals, which is considered to be responsible for the underestimation of the corresponding ages; (3) the AMS ¹⁴C age of the charcoal sample from the section is in line with the K-feldspar pIRIR₂₂₅ ages, confirming the reliability of the pIRIR₂₂₅ dates and the underestimation of the quartz OSL ages. The anomalous fading of quartz OSL signals and the consequent age underestimation have been reported in several other lakes on the TP, we presented here for the first time firm evidence of the phenomenon with the help of a robust independent control of AMS ¹⁴C age of the charcoal. Based on the pIRIR₂₂₅ and AMS ¹⁴C ages, we conclude that Dawa Co underwent a prominent highstand during the early Holocene (∼9–7 ka), which was probably controlled by the large amounts of glacial meltwater input and the increased monsoonal precipitation.     

Luminescence dating of fluvial deposits in Vojvodina,N Serbia: First results

This paper reports on the first investigations into the potential of luminescence dating to establish a chronological framework for fluvial processes in the Tisa River Valley in Vojvodina, N Serbia. A total of 18 samples were collected from a terrace exposure near Mužlja, which comprised non-fluvial deposits at the top and fluvial deposits at the base. The luminescence characteristics of sand-sized quartz and potassium feldspar grains were investigated using a single-aliquot regenerative dose (SAR) protocol. The quartz separates exhibit a complex behaviour, making this dosimeter less suited for optical dating. Investigations into the behaviour of infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) measured at 50 °C (IR₅₀) from K-rich feldspar extracts showed that preheating in excess of 60 s at 225 °C leads to significant sensitivity changes. The effect of IR stimulation on the thermoluminescence (TL) signal and that of preheating on IRSL intensity were examined; the results are inconclusive with respect to thermal stability, but are not inconsistent with the idea that the data do not reflect depletion of an electron trap. The IR₅₀-signal measured after a preheat of 60 s at 115 °C behaves well in the SAR protocol, although it suffers from anomalous fading. Assuming that the signal is thermally stable, the fading-corrected ages suggest that deposition occurred during the end of the Late Pleniglacial and the early Late Glacial, which is consistent with geological expectations. Our observations demonstrate that IRSL dating of feldspar holds potential for establishing a chronology of fluvial dynamics of the Tisa River in N Serbia. Further methodological investigations are desirable; however, as issues relating to the stability and resetting of the IRSL signal remain to be resolved.     

Testing the potential of elevated temperature post-IR IRSL signals for dating Romanian loess

In this study we test the potential of the elevated temperature infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) signals for dating Romanian loess. The recently developed post-IR IRSL protocol is applied to Romanian loess using polymineral fine grains extracted from the loess-palaeosol sequence at Mircea Vodă (SE Romania). This approach is aimed at obtaining an additional age control to examine the age discrepancy obtained from previous optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) studies using different grain-sizes of quartz (4–11 μm and 63–90 μm).Two preheat post-IR IR stimulation temperature combinations were used, 250–225 °C and 325–300 °C, respectively. The signals obtained are documented in terms of dose response curve, laboratory tests and fading. Although both post-IR IRSL signals exhibit small fading rates, dose response characteristics indicate that these rates may be laboratory artefacts. The post-IR IRSL signal stimulated at 300 °C is observed to suffer from dose dependent initial sensitivity changes as both natural and regenerated signals are observed to lie above the saturation level of the dose response curve. Uncorrected age results obtained using both post-IR IRSL signals are in general agreement with previously reported silt-sized quartz OSL ages for samples collected from the uppermost loess unit L1. For older material, the post-IR IRSL signal stimulated at 225 °C is considered to provide reliable age results, in agreement with independent age control available for this sequence.     

Bleachability of pIRIR signal from single-grain K-feldspar

The high-temperature (e.g., >200 °C) post-infrared infrared (pIRIR) stimulated luminescence of feldspar has been widely used for dating, because it usually suffers negligibly from anomalous fading. However, compared to the quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) or low-temperature (e.g., 50 °C) IR stimulated luminescence (IRSL) from feldspars, the high-temperature pIRIR signals have been shown to bleach more slowly and usually have high residual does of a few Gys or more, which limits its application to date relatively young samples and may cause problems for correcting residual dose/signal. In this study, we investigated the bleachability of K-feldspar pIRIR signals for individual grains. A significant variation in the bleachability of the pIRIR signal was observed among different K-feldspar grains from the same sample. Experiments show that such a variability may result in different residual doses for different grains and, consequently, additional scatter in D_e values. We present a method for quickly testing the bleachability of individual grains. Our result suggests that selecting the easy-to-bleach grains for D_e determination provides an efficient way to date young samples using high-temperature pIRIR signals, which avoids the compromise of using low-temperature pIRIR signals that may suffer from anomalous fading.     

Single grain optically stimulated luminescence dating of glacial sediments from the Baiyu Valley,southeastern Tibet

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is an important area for the study of Quaternary glaciation. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating has the potential to contribute to the chronology of glaciation in this region, but it is important to assess the accuracy of OSL dating of these glacial sediments. In this study, single grain quartz OSL signals are examined for five glacial samples collected from the moraines outside the Baiyu Valley, southeastern Tibet. The quartz grains exhibit poor luminescence characteristics, with a small proportion of grains passing the screening criteria. Grains which pass the screening criteria have relatively low signal intensity, leading to D_e values with large uncertainties. MAM and CAM were used to determine D_e values for these samples. The OSL ages are consistent with the sequence of events derived from the geomorphological relationship of the samples, and also with previous published radiocarbon ages. However, it is more difficult to reconcile the OSL ages and the terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide (TCN) ¹⁰Be ages. Analysis of both single grain quartz OSL data and TCN ¹⁰Be data is complex in this area. Further work is required to increase confidence in the OSL ages generated for the glacial sediments from this region.