Variations in luminescence properties of quartz and feldspar from modern fluvial sediments in three rivers

Studies of modern sediments, their sedimentology and depositional processes are important for understanding the behaviour of the luminescence characteristics of quartz and feldspar in fluvial settings. Previous studies have shown large variations in OSL characteristics of quartz from different fluvial systems, while the IRSL and pIRIR signals from K-feldspar have been understudied. We test the effects of fluvial setting on luminescence characteristics by collecting modern (<1 year old) bedload sediments down the courses of three river systems with very different hydrological characteristics, geologic contexts, and catchment lithologies. The single grain (SG) and multi-grain aliquot (MGA) OSL (quartz) and IRSL and pIRIR (K-feldspar) properties of samples were measured and compared to better understand intra- and inter-fluvial system patterns in sensitivity, bleaching, and equivalent dose (D_e) distribution skewness and kurtosis. The quartz OSL and K-feldspar IRSL and pIRIR signal sensitivities increase with downstream transport distance of sediments, confirming previous studies (quartz) and showing that IRSL signals from K-feldspar also increase in response to reworking cycles. Increasing transport distance also results in better bleaching of the OSL signal from quartz samples (MGA and SG) due to more grains being exposed to sunlight. By contrast, the IRSL and pIRIR signals retain significant residuals in all samples, though 5–15% of grains yield zero-dose D_e values and age modelling of SG data yields accurate burial dose estimates. Additionally, the skewness and kurtosis of SG OSL D_e datasets from one river increase with transport distance, with the best bleached samples exhibiting the highest skewness, thereby questioning the applicability of the skewness-value of a D_e dataset as an accurate indicator for partial-bleaching. Our data shows marked variability between (i) different river systems and (ii) the measured minerals, however consistent use of statistical models allows accurate D_e estimation in all contexts. Age modelling of SG data from K-feldspar, thus, provides a valuable tool for future fluvial research in regions where poor OSL characteristics prevent the use of quartz as a dosimeter.     

Exploring fading in single grain feldspar IRSL measurements

IR laser stimulated luminescence was used to determine the equivalent dose (D_e) for about 150 luminescent K-feldspar grains of two well-bleached aeolian sand samples, previously dated using quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and thermally-transferred OSL (TT-OSL). Fading tests were performed both on the entire single grain disc, using stimulation by IR LEDs, and on each grain individually, by stimulation with an IR laser. The single grain D_e distributions are highly over dispersed, even after applying rejection criteria, such as recycling ratio and recuperation. Fading rates determined with the IR LED stimulation do not represent the fading behavior of the IR laser stimulated signal and are therefore considered inappropriate for the fading correction of single grain D_e values. Fading rates of individual grains exhibit a wide range of values (0%–10% per decade) and plotting the single grain fading rates against the single grain D_e values reveals a negative relationship. Different approaches were taken to correct for fading, but the resulting ages tend to underestimate the reference ages.     

Quartz OSL and K-feldspar pIRIR dating of a loess/paleosol sequence from arid central Asia,Tianshan Mountains,NW China

Loess deposits surrounding the high mountainous regions of arid central Asia (ACA) play an important role in understanding environmental changes in Eurasia on orbital and sub-orbital time scales. However, problems with dating loess in ACA have limited the interpretation of climatic and environmental data, especially Holocene data. We selected a typical loess/paleosol sequence (LJW10) on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains in ACA consisting of 280 cm of loess with multiple paleosols formed in the upper 170 cm of the section. We applied quartz OSL dating to coarse-grained (63–90 μm) fractions, and newly developed K-feldspar pIRIR dating protocols to both coarse-grained and medium-grained (38–63 μm) fractions of the samples from LJW10 section. Internal checks of the quartz OSL dating indicate that the single-aliquot regenerative-dose protocol on large aliquots (5 mm) is appropriate for equivalent dose (D_e) determinations and that the quartz ages of the loess samples are likely to be reliable. Luminescence characteristics and internal checks of the pIRIR dating indicate the pIRIR signal at a 170 °C stimulation temperature with a 200 °C preheat can be used for both coarse-grained and medium-grained D_e determinations. Anomalous fading tests for the pIRIR 170 °C signal indicate the pIRIR signals are stable and the anomalous fading of the pIRIR 170 °C signal can be ignored. Sunlight bleaching tests of the loess indicate the residual dose for the pIRIR 170 °C signal can also be ignored as it corresponds to only ∼9 years for the medium-grained K-feldspar and ∼85 years for the coarse-grained K-feldspar. The pIRIR ages of five medium-grained and coarse-grained K-feldspar samples are consistent with coarse-grained quartz OSL ages, and both the medium-grained and coarse-grained ages increase uniformly with depth, indicating these pIRIR ages are reliable. Based on the coarse-grained quartz OSL ages, and on coarse-grained and medium-grained K-feldspar pIRIR ages, an age-depth model for the paleosol-loess sequence was established by using a Bacon age-depth model. This model suggests eolian loess deposition began by at least ∼16 ka ago and that paleosol development on these eolian loess deposits began ∼5.5 ka, continuing to the present, with periods of high effective moisture at 5.5–4.9, 4.6–4.1, and 3.4–3.1 ka. This sequence suggests overall relative aridity during the early Holocene and an increase in effective moisture beginning ∼5.5 ka during the mid-late Holocene in ACA.     

Luminescence dating of scoria fall and lahar deposits from Somma–Vesuvius,Italy

Luminescence dating has been applied to scoria and lahar deposits from Somma–Vesuvius, Italy. Samples include scoria from the AD472 and 512 (or 536) eruptions and lahar deposits. In order to find a stable luminescence signal which is less affected by anomalous fading, infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) signals at elevated temperatures after bleaching with IR at 50 °C (termed post-IR IRSL; pIRIR) were tested at different preheat and elevated stimulation temperatures. The fading rates of both IRSL and pIRIR signals reduced dramatically with increasing preheat and pIRIR stimulation temperatures. A pIRIR signal measured at 290 °C after a preheat at 320 °C (60 s) and an IR stimulation at 50 °C (100 s) was selected to calculate the equivalent dose (D_e). The gamma spectrometry results indicate that the U-series nuclides are not in equilibrium and there is a large ²²⁶Ra excess. The dose rates and ages were calculated by assuming a ²²⁶Ra excess (over its parent ²³⁰Th) at deposition, and that this unsupported excess then decayed to the present level. The resulting luminescence ages of the two scoria samples agreed with the expected ages, and the ages of the lahar deposits indicate that they are associated with the AD1631 eruption.     

Equivalent dose estimation of calcite using isothermal thermoluminescence signals

Thermoluminescence (TL) signals of calcite can be used to potentially date geological and archaeological events back to several million years. However, several issues, such as spurious TL signals appearing at temperatures above 300 °C, have hindered its application to a wide range of samples. A single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol for calcite with low-temperature measurements is proposed to measure the equivalent dose (D_e). It uses the isothermal TL (ITL) signals measured at around 225-240 °C, where a D_e vs. ITL temperature (D_e-T) plateau can be observed. The width of the temperature range of such a plateau can be sample dependent, as it relates to the proportional contributions of the signals from corresponding TL peaks. The signal at the ITL temperature plateau range largely corresponds to the TL signals of the 280 °C TL peak. D_e values obtained by the SAR-ITL protocol are in agreement with those of the multiple-aliquot additive-dose (MAA)-TL and MAA-ITL protocols. The absence of detectable anomalous fading of ITL signals at 235 °C in this and previous studies indicates that the signal is free of fading. Dose recovery tests confirm the suitability of the SAR-ITL protocol for D_e estimation. The SAR-ITL protocol measured with temperatures below 300 °C avoids the effects of spurious luminescence signals induced by high-temperature heating. The dose-response curves for ITL signals at 230-235 °C have large characteristic saturation doses (D₀) of ∼2000-2400 Gy. The SAR-ITL protocol for calcite thus has the potential to date geological and archaeological samples spanning the entire Quaternary period.     

Feldspar multi-elevated-temperature post-IR IRSL dating of the Wulanmulun Paleolithic site and its implication

The Wulanmulun site found in 2010 is an important Paleolithic site in Ordos (China), from which lots of stone and bone artifacts and mammalian fossils have been recovered. It was previously dated by radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) techniques on quartz. To further confirm the reliability of the chronology constructed based on OSL ages and test the applicability of the recently developed pIRIR procedure on sediments from northern China, twenty-four sediment samples (including eolian, lacustrine and fluvio-eolian sands) from the site were determined using the multi-elevated-temperature post-IR IRSL (MET-pIRIR or pIRIR) procedure on potassium feldspar. The results show that the studied samples have two MET-pIRIR D_e preheat plateaus (280–320 and 340–360 °C), and the bleaching rates of the luminescence signals are associated with sample ages and stimulation temperatures. All the pIRIR ages (7–155 ka) corrected for anomalous fading and residual dose obtained after solar bleaching for 15 h are larger than the corresponding quartz OSL ages (4–66 ka) previously determined, even for the young eolian samples (<10 ka). But the corrected IRSL(50 °C) ages (6–85 ka) are broadly consistent with the quartz ages. It appears that the IRSL(50 °C) ages are more reliable, although this contradicts the previously results obtained by other people. On the other hand, we also obtained an extended age plateau between the stimulation temperatures of 50 and 290 °C in the plot of age versus stimulation temperature (A-T plot) by subtracting different residual doses obtained after different bleaching times. The reliability of the plateau ages requires further investigation. For the sediment samples from this site, quartz should be more suitable for dating than K-feldspar, and the quartz OSL ages of 50–65 ka for its cultural layer should be reliable.     

On the dose dependency of the bleachable and non-bleachable components of IRSL from K-feldspar: Improved procedures for luminescence dating of Quaternary sediments

The infrared (IR) stimulated luminescence (IRSL) and post-IR IRSL (pIRIR) signals from K-feldspar can, for convenience, be divided into two components, bleachable and ‘non-bleachable’, where the latter corresponds to the ‘residual’ signal observed in sunlight-bleached samples. In this paper, we examine the non-bleachable component of IRSL of K-feldspar for several sedimentary samples from across Eurasia. We observed a large variability in the residual doses among these samples after prolonged exposure to sunlight. By employing multiple elevated temperature (MET) IR stimulations at 50–300 °C, we show that the residual dose increases systematically with stimulation temperature, attaining values as high as ∼50 Gy at 300 °C, even after several hours to tens of hours of exposure to unfiltered sunlight. We examined two samples in detail and found that the bleachable and non-bleachable components produced different dose response curves. Pulse annealing studies showed that the non-bleachable component is more stable than the bleachable component, suggesting that a preheat procedure cannot eliminate the non-bleachable component. Additional experiments revealed that the non-bleachable component is dose dependent. Owing to this dose dependency, we demonstrate mathematically and empirically that the simple subtraction of a residual dose from the measured equivalent dose (D_e) – which is the most common approach employed (if any residual dose is subtracted at all) – will result in underestimation of the actual D_e. We present a method to correct for the dose dependency of the residual dose, which can improve the accuracy of either MET-pIRIR or pIRIR age estimates for samples in which the non-bleachable component represents a significant fraction of the measured signals.     

Luminescence dating of K-feldspar from sediments: A protocol without anomalous fading correction

A protocol for optical dating of potassium-rich feldspar (K-feldspar) is proposed. It utilizes the infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) signal measured by progressively increasing the stimulation temperature from 50 to 250 °C in step of 50 °C, so-called multi-elevated-temperature post-IR IRSL (MET-pIRIR) measurements. Negligible anomalous fading was observed for the MET-pIRIR signals obtained at 200 and 250 °C. This was supported by equivalent dose (D_e) measurements using the IRSL and MET-pIRIR signals. The D_e values increase progressively from 50 °C to 200 °C, but similar D_e values were obtained for the MET-pIRIR signal at 200 and 250 °C. Measurement of modern samples and bleached samples indicates that the MET-pIRIR signals have small residual doses less than 5 Gy equivalent to about 1–2 ka. We have tested the protocol using various sedimentary samples with different ages from different regions of China. The MET-pIR IRSL ages obtained at 200 and 250 °C are consistent with independent and/or quartz OSL ages.     

Construction of a ‘global standardised growth curve’ (gSGC) for infrared stimulated luminescence dating of K-feldspar

We investigated the infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) and post-infrared IRSL (pIRIR) signals emitted by K-feldspars from sedimentary samples from Asia, Europe and Africa using a single-aliquot multiple elevated temperature (MET) stimulation procedure. For separate aliquots of the same sample, we show that variation among the dose response curves (DRCs), or growth curves, constructed from the regenerative dose signal (L_x), the test dose signal (T_x, an indicator of luminescence sensitivity) and the sensitivity-corrected signal (L_x/T_x) can be largely eliminated by normalising the DRCs using one of the regenerative dose signals; we call this procedure ‘regenerative-dose normalisation’ or re-normalisation. Furthermore, for the MET-pIRIR signals measured at 250 °C, we find that different samples have re-normalised DRCs that follow the same growth function, despite the samples differing significantly in terms of their geological provenance, sedimentary context, equivalent dose (D_e) and luminescence sensitivity. This common feature offers the potential to establish a ‘global standardised growth curve’ (gSGC) for different samples of K-feldspar, and thereby enable D_e values to be estimated for a large number of single aliquots by projecting the re-normalised natural signals on to the gSGC. For the 18 samples investigated in this study, we find that D_e estimates obtained from the gSGC are consistent with those obtained using full single-aliquot regenerative dose (SAR) procedures for doses of up to ∼1600 Gy. The establishment of a gSGC would greatly reduce the time required to date older samples using K-feldspar, as regenerative doses of several hundreds to a few thousands of Gy are typically delivered to each aliquot in each SAR cycle.     

OSL and IRSL dating of raised beach sand deposits along the southeastern coast of Norway

Raised beach sand deposits along the southeastern coast of Norway were dated by optical (OSL) and infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) and the quartz and K-feldspar luminescence characteristics were described. Due to the poor quartz luminescence characteristics, only a limited number of samples were suitable for OSL dating. More promising are the K-feldspar extracts, with typical K-feldspar luminescence characteristics and no sign of fading. For equivalent dose (D_e) determination, sand-size quartz and feldspar extracts were used, applying a single aliquot regenerative (SAR) protocol. Both, OSL and IRSL D_e estimates show a wide distribution, unexpected for beach deposits. The calculated OSL and IRSL age estimates were generally in good agreement and the correctness of the ages was confirmed by independent age control. Because only a limited number of the quartz samples were suitable for OSL dating, IRSL dating of the K-feldspar represents an alternative to OSL quartz dating.     

Maximum age limitation in luminescence dating of Chinese loess using the multiple-aliquot MET-pIRIR signals from K-feldspar

Numerical dating of loess is important for Quaternary studies. Recent progress in post-infrared infrared-stimulated luminescence (pIRIR) signals from potassium-rich feldspar has allowed successful dating of Chinese loess beyond the conventional dating limit based on quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) signals. In this study we tested the multiple-aliquot regenerative-dose (MAR) pre-dose multiple-elevated-temperature post-IR IRSL (pMET-pIRIR) procedure on samples from the palaeosol S5 (∼480 ka) and S8 (∼780 ka) layers from the Luochuan and Jingbian sections, respectively. The results show that (1) compared to sensitivity-corrected signal (L_x/T_x), a higher saturation dose is observed for the sensitivity-uncorrected MET-pIRIR signals (L_x), suggesting that MAR is advantageous for dating old samples; (2) negligible fading component can be achieved using the pMET-pIRIR procedure; (3) for the sample from the top of palaeosol S5, D_e values (1360 + 226/-167 Gy) broadly consistent with expected D_e (1550 ± 72 Gy) can be obtained using the sensitivity-uncorrected 300 °C MET-pIRIR signal. Our study suggests that a D_e value of about 1800 Gy may be the maximum dating limit of Chinese loess using the MAR pMET-pIRIR procedure.     

A modified multi-elevated-temperature post-IR IRSL protocol for dating Holocene sediments using K-feldspar

A modified multi-elevated-temperature post-IR infra-red stimulated luminescence (MET-pIRIR) protocol is proposed for dating young samples of Holocene age using K-feldspar. The protocol utilizes a five-step MET-pIRIR measurement with a moderate preheating of 200 °C for 60 s, and a narrow IR stimulation temperature increment of 30 °C (i.e., the five measurement temperatures are 50, 80, 110, 140 and 170 °C). Using this method, the residual doses of the MET-pIRIR signals are generally less than 1 Gy. Holocene aeolian samples from Northern China were tested using the 30°C-increment modified MET-pIRIR method. The results demonstrate that similar ages from 140 °C to 170 °C were obtained for our samples, which were consistent with the quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages. Based on this observation, the measurement procedures are further simplified to a three-step pIRIR protocol. The first IR stimulation at elevated temperature (110 °C) is used to remove the fading affected signals. This is followed by two steps of IR stimulation at high temperatures (140 and 170 °C) for equivalent dose (De) measurement. Dating results consistent with the expected ages have been obtained at stimulation temperatures of 140 and 170 °C. It is suggested that the first IR stimulation can effectively remove the fading component. The three-step pIRIR method has minimized the experimental procedures, while keeping the age plateau test.     

Bayesian analysis of De distributions in optical dating: Towards a robust method for dealing with outliers

In optical dating, especially single-grain dating, various patterns of distributions in equivalent dose (D_e) are usually observed and analysed using different statistical models. None of these methods, however, is designed to deal with outliers that do not form part of the population of grains associated with the event of interest (the ‘target population’), despite outliers being commonly present in single-grain D_e distributions. In this paper, we present a Bayesian method for detecting D_e outliers and making allowance for them when estimating the D_e value of the target population. We test this so-called Bayesian outlier model (BOM) using data sets obtained for individual grains of quartz from sediments deposited in a variety of settings, and in simulations. We find that the BOM is suitable for single-grain D_e distributions containing outliers that, for a variety of reasons, do not form part of the target population. For example, D_e outliers may be associated with grains that have undesirable luminescence properties (e.g., thermal instability, high rates of anomalous fading) or with contaminant grains incorporated into a sample when collected in the field or prepared in the laboratory. Grains that have much larger or smaller D_e values than the target population, due to factors such as insufficient bleaching, beta-dose heterogeneity or post-depositional disturbance, may also be identified as outliers using the BOM, enabling these values to be weighted appropriately for final D_e and age determination.     

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.     

Variability in quartz OSL signals caused by measurement uncertainties: Problems and solutions

We simulated the variability in measured quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) signals and dose response curves (DRCs) caused by measurement uncertainties, including counting statistics and instrumental irreproducibility. We find that these measurement errors can give rise to large variations in the observed luminescence signal and contribute to among-aliquot or among-grain scatter in DRCs and equivalent dose (D_e) values. Different measurement systems (i.e., luminescence readers) may have different counting statistics properties and, hence, may exhibit differing extents of variation in the observed OSL signal, even for the same sample. Our simulation shows that the random measurement uncertainties may result in some grains or aliquots being ‘saturated’ (that is, the measured natural signal is consistent with, or lies above, the saturation level of the measured DRC) and that the rejection of these ‘saturated’ grains may result in a truncated D_e distribution, with D_e underestimation for samples with natural doses close to saturation (e.g., twice the characteristic saturation dose, D₀). We propose a new method to deal with this underestimation problem, in which standardised growth curves (SGCs) are established and the weighted-mean natural signal (L_n/T_n) from all measured grains is projected on to the corresponding SGCs to determine D_e. Our simulation results show that this method can produce reliable D_e estimates up to 5D₀, which is far beyond the conventional limit of ∼2D₀ using the standard SAR procedure.     

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.     

Dating the recent past (<500 years) by post-IR IRSL feldspar – Examples from the North Sea and Baltic Sea coast

The applicability of the post-IR IRSL single-aliquot regenerative-dose protocol (termed pIRIR protocol) has been tested on K-rich feldspar from recent coastal sediment samples (<500 a) from the southern North Sea coast and southern Baltic Sea coast. The most suitable post-IR IRSL (pIRIR) stimulation temperature is found to be 150 °C by using a preheat temperature of 180 °C. For this pIRIR stimulation temperature, a detectable pIRIR signal is obtained and the residual dose is minimized. Furthermore, anomalous fading is found to be negligible in the pIRIR₁₅₀ signal for our young samples whereas the fading rates for the conventional IRSL signal measured at 50 °C (IRSL₅₀) is between 5 and 7%/decade. However, the pIRIR₁₅₀ signal bleaches significantly slower compared to the IRSL_50, according to bleaching experiments using daylight, solar simulator and IR diodes, although the residual doses of both signals are similar. The laboratory residual doses in perfectly bleached aliquots are variable from sample to sample and vary between 300 ± 170 and 800 ± 460 mGy for the pIRIR₁₅₀. The precision of the residual dose determination is generally poor and causes large uncertainties on the residual subtracted ages. The laboratory residual doses alone cannot account for the observed overestimation in our two youngest samples (<70 a), indicating that the feldspar signals in these samples were presumably not fully bleached prior to aeolian or beach deposition. However, even if the age uncertainties are large we obtained pIRIR₁₅₀ ages in agreement with independent age estimates for the two older samples, which are 70 and 390 years old.     

Optical dating of Chinese loess using sand-sized quartz: Establishing a time frame for Late Pleistocene climate changes in the western part of the Chinese Loess Plateau

The Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) is of major interest to Quaternary geologists because it represents an important terrestrial archive of palaeoclimatic fluctuations. Previous multiple-aliquot luminescence dating studies of Chinese loess mainly used thermoluminescence (TL) and infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) signals of polymineral fine-grains; these are known to be subject to anomalous fading and thus will tend to yield age underestimations. In this paper we investigate whether the blue-light stimulated luminescence (BLSL) signals from 63 to 90 μm quartz grains extracted from three western Chinese loess sites (Zhongjiacai, Le Du and Tuxiangdao) can be used to establish a reliable chronology. The single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) procedure is used for the equivalent dose (D_e) determinations and the suitability of our measurement protocol is confirmed by dose recovery tests. The influence of an IRSL signal on the quartz D_e measurements derived from BLSL has been investigated. From these results we conclude that an IRSL contamination, expressed as an IRSL/BLSL ratio, of up to 10% can be accepted before the values of D_e are significantly affected. All three sites yield stratigraphically consistent and spatially highly reproducible optical ages up to about 50–70 ka. At the Tuxiangdao site a marked hiatus in the record is identified between ∼20 and ∼30 ka; this remained undetected in previous studies and clearly highlights the importance of high-resolution optical dating in Chinese loess research. The optical ages presented in this work provide more evidence for episodic loess deposition and varying loess accumulation rates in the western part of the CLP. Our study seems to confirm the potential of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating using the SAR procedure applied to the very fine sandy quartz fraction in Chinese loess back to ∼40–50 ka (∼120–150 Gy).