The upper Pleistocene loess-palaeosol sequence at solonovka on the Cis-Altai plain,west Siberia – First luminescence dating results     

《Quaternary Geochronology》2022

Loess-palaeosol deposits of the Upper Pleistocene cover an extensive territory in the south of Western Siberia. Previously, most studies of loess-palaeosol sequences were carried out on river bank sections of the Ob river around Novosibirsk and upstream of this location (Ob Loess plateau); more recently, the focus of research has shifted towards the inner part of the Cis-Altai plain. Despite a good knowledge of the structure of regional loess-palaeosol sequences, there is a considerable lack of absolute dating beyond the radiocarbon limit. However, recent high resolution luminescence dating of a key Marine Isotope Stage 5 (MIS 5) stratotype at Lozhok has identified the presence of a long hiatus in the deposit. As a result, the published ages of the main units have been underestimated, because the existing chronology is largely based on palaeosol counting. This new observation argues for an urgent re-evaluation of the accepted chronostratigraphy of Western Siberian Late Quaternary. Here we present the first luminescence data for a loess-palaeosol sequence of the Cis-Altai plain, at the Solonovka key section, using both quartz optically stimulated luminescence and feldspar post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence from 25 samples. The results show that the deposits were formed during the Late Pleistocene. The ∼1 m thick well-developed upper pedocomplex (PC1) has cryoturbation cracks filled with upper loess; this a characteristic regional benchmark for stratigraphic correlation. Two distinct hiatuses in sedimentation are found in the section: at the boundary of MIS 3/2, and after the formation of the MIS 5 Berdsk pedocomplex (PC3 and 2) until the beginning of the formation of MIS 3 deposits. The age of the thick PC3 palaeosol at the base of the section is determined as MIS 5, confirming evidence for the pronounced Kazantsevo (Eemian) interglacial in the loess-palaeosol record of Western Siberia. The results of our study emphasize the importance of understanding the palaeogeomorphological background to soil development, and the necessity of absolute chronology; we consider that the position of MIS 5 in the regional chronostratigraphic chart of South Western Siberia requires further study.  相似文献   

Advances and limitations in establishing a contiguous high-resolution atmospheric radiocarbon record derived from subfossil kauri tree rings for the interval 60–27 cal kyr BP     

《Quaternary Geochronology》2022

Radiocarbon dating is the most widely applied and reliable dating technique for providing chronological control during Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS3; ∼60–27 cal kyr BP). Past variations in the atmospheric concentration of radiocarbon mean a calibration curve is required. IntCal20 and SHCal20 calibration curves covering MIS3 are presently largely based on non-atmospheric records which, in combination with larger radiocarbon (¹⁴C) dating uncertainties, results in significant smoothing and reduced resolution in calibration curve structure. Floating tree ring radiocarbon chronologies that are wiggle-matched to other palaeo records (particularly to Hulu Cave speleothems) have the potential to provide detailed structure to the MIS3 portion of extant calibration curves. New Zealand subfossil kauri (Agathis australis) trees are long-lived and are useful for constructing temporally-floating MIS3 atmospheric radiocarbon datasets. This paper presents extant and emerging data from several important Northland subfossil kauri locations (Omaha, Babylon Coast, Bream Bay, Kai Iwi Lakes, Mangawhai). We show the span of seven floating MIS3 kauri sequences (individual trees and chronologies) from which sequential radiocarbon series covering a total of 7556 years is now in development (representing 23% of the period 60–27 cal kyr BP). We also report radiocarbon dates for an additional 34 ancient kauri from MIS3 that can provide additional coverage. After these floating subfossil wood sequences have been produced, close to 40% of MIS3 (12,420 years) will be covered by contiguous subfossil kauri radiocarbon measurements. Based on our findings, we discuss the prospects and limitations for obtaining a highly resolved and precise atmospheric radiocarbon calibration curve comprehensively covering MIS3 using subfossil kauri.  相似文献   

Lake level changes of Nam Co since 25 ka as revealed by OSL dating of paleo-shorelines     

《Quaternary Geochronology》2022

Many lakes in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) experienced dramatic lake level changes in the late Quaternary, as suggested by well-preserved paleo-shorelines up to ∼200 m above present lake levels. These relic shorelines provide direct geomorphic record to reconstruct past lake level fluctuation history and water volume changes, linked closely to variations in paleo-climatic controls including Asian monsoon, westerlies and glacial meltwater. In this study, 27 near-shore sediment samples from three of eight paleo-shorelines at north of Nam Co were dated by Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) technique, using coarse grains of quartz and potassium feldspar.Our results indicate that: 1) S1 is the highest/most developed shoreline (+26 m). Sediment from upper part of S1 has a consistent age of ∼25 ka (nine samples from 3 gullies), suggesting a high lake level of Nam Co occurred around 25 ka. An overflow point west of Nam Co has a close elevation to that of S1 and thus limits the presence of higher lake levels; 2) sediment profile from the slightly lower S2 (+22 m) contains two parts, silty sand (6.9–8.9 ka) at the bottom and shoreline deposits atop (∼2.3 ka), suggesting Nam Co maintained a relative high lake level in the early Holocene and such lake level occurred again at about 3.0–2.0 ka; 3) In contrast to the swift variations of monsoon precipitation and glacial meltwater in the late Quaternary, water level of Nam Co remained relatively stable during the period from ∼25 ka to about early Holocene (from +26 m to +22 m), implying a continuous outflowing stage and lake infill constantly exceeds evaporation; 4) S5 (+11 m) has an age of 0.7–1.4 ka. Nam Co showed a much accelerated pace of shrinkage since about 2.0 ka in the late Holocene in roughly two steps: it dropped from +22 m to +11 m from ∼2.0 ka to 1.4 ka, and subsequently dropped another 11 m after 0.7 ka.  相似文献   

Dating of megaflood deposits in the Russian Altai using rock surface luminescence     

《Quaternary Geochronology》2022

Catastrophic drainage of ice-dammed lakes in the Altai Mountains has been inferred from geomorphological evidence in the Katun Valley (Russia), and is presumed to have occurred during the Pleistocene. The sedimentary features have been difficult to date directly, due to the absence of organic carbon, and the improbability that luminescence signals in sand grains would be reset during transport. However, the development of rock-surface luminescence dating provides a new opportunity to date the features: clasts have a different transport history to sand grains, and their luminescence depth profiles can be inspected for evidence of bleaching before burial. Here we investigate two sites in the Altai Mountains, and use rock-surface luminescence burial dating to constrain the age of the megaflood deposits. In the Katun Valley, we sampled granite cobbles from a frozen sediment clast emplaced as a dropstone within a massive megaflood gravel terrace. Burial ages for the clasts range from 16.7 to 21.4 ka, with a mean age of 19.8 ± 1.5 ka. This represents the depositional age of the fluvial sediments that preceded the lake outburst flood, (and hence places a maximum age on the catastrophic flood). Clasts sampled from mega-ripples in the Kurai Basin are shown to have a mid-to-late Holocene burial age, which is not consistent with the possible origin of these features during a catastrophic drainage of a glacier-dammed lake. Instead, the burial age of the Kurai Basin sediments may reflect local-scale periglacial or seismic processes along the Kurai Fault Zone.  相似文献   

A detailed luminescence chronology of the Lower Volga loess-palaeosol sequence at Leninsk     

《Quaternary Geochronology》2022

We present a detailed luminescence chronology of the loess-palaeosol sequences in the Lower Volga region of Russia at the Leninsk site – an important palaeogeographic archive describing the climate and environmental conditions of regressive stages of the Caspian Sea. The chronology of these sediments has received very little attention compared to the under- and overlying marine deposits. The degree of bleaching was addressed by making use of the differential resetting rates of quartz and feldspar. Our results show that the quartz OSL and feldspar pIRIR_50,290 signals were sufficiently bleached before deposition and uncertainties in bleaching have a negligible impact on the reliability of the luminescence ages. The combined quartz OSL and K-feldspar pIRIR_50,290 chronology constrains the main stages of the Northern Caspian Lowland evolution during the Late Quaternary. During early MIS 5 (130–120 ka), the northern part of the Lower Volga was covered by a shallow brackish water estuary of the warm Late Khazarian Caspian Sea transgression. After ∼122 ka, the Volga incised the Northern Caspian Lowland surface following sea-level decrease and the start of subaerial conditions at Leninsk. Loess accumulation rate increased towards the end of MIS 5 and two palaeosols of presumably MIS 5с and MIS 5a age formed, exhibiting features evidencing a dry, cold climate, influenced by long seasonal flooding by the Volga River. Cryogenesis affecting the MIS 5a soil is a regional phenomenon and is dated to between ∼70 and 90 ka. The overlying thick Atelian loess unit formed during the cold periods of MIS 4 and MIS 3. Clear erosional features at the top of the Atelian loess are constrained by luminescence to ∼35 to ∼24 ka, allowing reconstruction of erosion of 150–200 cm of loess.  相似文献   

Coarse-grained K-rich feldspar and fine-grained polymineral IRSL dating of loess-palaeosol from the Chinese Loess Plateau: A comparison     

《Quaternary Geochronology》2022

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Luminescence and ESR dating of the sedimentary infill from the multi-level cave system of Alkerdi-Zelaieta (Navarre,N Spain)     

《Quaternary Geochronology》2022

The finding of Upper Paleolithic engravings in 2016 triggered a multidisciplinary investigation of the Alkerdi cave system (Urdazubi, N Spain). The study of the speleogenetic processes led to the identification of at least 6 paragenetic cave levels with associated sedimentary infill. In order to unravel the timing of changes in the karst dynamics and to get some insights about sediment origin, two sediment samples were collected from cave levels 4 and 1 for numerical dating purpose, using both Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) and Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) methods. One additional modern-age sample was also taken from the entrance of the karst to evaluate the magnitude of the optical bleaching achieved by the quartz grains before entering the cave system. Last, one sample was collected from a flowstone for U-series dating, providing independent age control.OSL measurements were carried out using small quartz multi-grain (MG) and single-grain (SG) Single Aliquot Regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol. Initial Equivalent Dose (D_e) results show evidence of saturated OSL signal for the sample of the higher level (with ∼60% of saturated aliquots). Unlike SA data, SG analyses do not meet the usual quality criteria (e.g., relatively high recuperation ratios, only a few grains with useable signal), suggesting that corresponding dating results should be treated with caution.Hence, both MG and SG TT-OSL and MG ESR methods were subsequently employed, as the corresponding signals are known to have higher saturation levels than OSL ones. ESR analyses were based on the Multiple Centre (MC) approach using the standard multi-grain multi-aliquot additive (MAA) dose method, while TT-OSL measurements were performed following Demuro et al. (2020). The latter, however, did not return any useful results for both samples. MC ESR data show the usual D_e pattern (D_e(Al)>D_e(Ti op. D)>D_e(Ti–H)) indicating that among the three ESR signals analyzed, the Ti–H most likely provides the closest estimate to the true burial age. However, low measurement repeatability and goodness-of-of fit indicate that the reliability of the ESR results may be reasonably questioned.Results derived from this multi-technique dating approach provide the first chronological constraints for the sedimentary infill of the Alkerdi cave system. In particular, they suggest that sediment deposition in Cave Level 4 (ALK-OSL01) occurred around 130 ka, which is in good agreement with the minimum age constraint given by the speleothem (80.5 ± 9.0 ka). In comparison, the young age obtained for sample ALK-OSL02 (5.0 ± 0.9 ka) suggests recent Holocene formation of the lowest cave level 1.Finally, the MG De value obtained for the modern sample is close to zero (<1 Gy), indicating that the OSL signal is almost fully reset at a multi-grain level before entering the cave. Additionally, despite the large De overdispersion measured in this modern sample, the De values are one to two order of magnitude lower than those obtained with the same model in the other two samples. Therefore, the large OSL D_e overdispersion (OD) values of up to 64% obtained for the two samples from Cave Level 4 and 1 are most likely related to re-sedimentation processes inside the cave system.  相似文献   

Testing a new combined (U,Th)–He and U/Th dating approach on Plio-Pleistocene calcite speleothems     

《Quaternary Geochronology》2022

The geochronology of cave deposits in the Cradle of Humankind UNESCO World Heritage Site in South Africa provides a timeframe essential for the interpretation of its fossils. The uranium-lead (U–Pb) and uranium-thorium disequilibrium (U/Th) dating of speleothems, mostly flowstones that underlie and blanket the fossil-bearing sediments, have been effective in this sense, but U–Pb is limited by the requirement of ∼1 ppm U concentrations and low common Pb contents, and U/Th has a c. 500 ka limit of applicability. Here we report age results for calcite-aragonite speleothems obtained using a new combined uranium-thorium-helium ((U,Th)–He) and U/Th dating routine. We reproduced within analytical uncertainty, the published U–Pb or U/Th ages for (a) flowstone in three drill core samples in the range 2000–3000 ka, (b) a flowstone hand sample taken at surface with an age of 1800 ka, and (c) five underground flowstone samples in the range 100–800 ka. Calcite retentivity for He under cave conditions is thus demonstrated. In the few cases where helium loss was observed in speleothems, only some of the subsamples were affected, and to varying degrees, suggesting loss by lattice damage not related to diagenetic processes, rather than volume diffusion. In the 100 to 800 ka range, the combined U/Th disequilibrium and (U,Th)–He method also yielded reliable values for initial (²³⁰Th/²³⁸U) and (²³⁴U/²³⁸U) activity ratios. Importantly, most subsamples had high initial (²³⁰Th/²³⁸U) values, ranging from 1.0 to 19.7, although having low Th/U ratios. This is probably due to incorporation of Fe–Mn oxides-hydroxides dust, on which ²³⁰Th was previously adsorbed. Such samples are mostly not dateable by U/Th without the additional input from the He analysis. If not detected and corrected for, such high initial (²³⁰Th/²³⁸U) values can lead to inaccurate U/Th and U–Pb ages. Our study shows that the incorporation of He analysis in U/Th dating has broad potential application, with four methods for calculating the ages, in carbonates from different environments where U-Pb or U/Th dating would not work.  相似文献   

Isolating quartz-dominated OSL signal of rock slice by using pulsed stimulation: Implications for dating burial age of cobbles     

《Quaternary Geochronology》2022

Although the OSL signal sourced from quartz is expected to be more stable and bleached more rapidly than the IRSL signal sourced from feldspar in a general sense, the former is much less investigated than the latter for rock surface related luminescence dating. It is mainly due to the difficulty in isolating quartz-dominated OSL signals from rock slices, and the low sensitivity and non-fast component dominated OSL signals for quartz in most of rocks. In merit of the sub-conduction band transition of trapped electrons of feldspar under both green light stimulation and IR stimulation at elevated temperature (Jain and Ankjӕrgaard, 2011), it is expected that the contribution of feldspars to the green light stimulated luminescence could be substantially reduced by a prior IR stimulation at elevated temperature. Meanwhile, more fast-component dominated quartz OSL signal (if there is any) could be obtained by green light stimulation (Bailey et al., 2011). Therefore, in this study, we investigated the feasibility of using the post-IR pulsed green stimulation, which is performed at 25 °C (PGLSL₂₅) following two IR stimulations (IR₅₀IR₂₂₅), to isolate the quartz-dominated OSL signals from rock slices of granite cobbles for burial dating. The decay characteristics of stimulation curve, characteristic saturation dose and thermal stability of the pIR₅₀IR₂₂₅ PGLSL₂₅ signal suggest that this signal is quartz-dominated, but still not fast-component dominated. We tentatively validated the equivalent dose (D_e) measurement protocol by dose recovery experiment. The luminescence-depth profiles show that the bleaching depths of pIR₅₀IR₂₂₅ PGLSL₂₅ signals are slightly smaller than or close to that of the IR₅₀ signals, while they are much shallower for the pIR₅₀IR₂₂₅ signals. The pIR₅₀IR₂₂₅ PGLSL₂₅ procedure enables multiple D_e values determined from luminescence signals, with different bleachabilities and stabilities, from both feldspars and quartz in one measurement, which is of potential for buried age dating of cobbles.  相似文献   

A method to evaluate the degree of bleaching of IRSL signals in feldspar: The 3ET method     

《Quaternary Geochronology》2022

In addition to dating, IRSL luminescence signals can preserve information about erosional, transport, and depositional histories of a population of grains. Knowledge of the degree of bleaching can be useful in understanding the processes that occurred during previous depositional events, as certain transport conditions result in a well bleached signal, while others result in grains retaining an inherited signal from prior events. This information can be accessed by making single-grain IRSL measurements across successively increasing temperatures, thereby isolating signals from traps of different bleachabilities.A new approach offers a way to evaluate the completeness of bleaching of a grain by testing patterns of equivalent dose (D_E) values measured at three elevated temperatures (3ET), 50, 125, and 225 °C. Consistent D_E estimates across two or more temperatures suggest a single bleaching event of sufficient duration to fully depopulate the traps involved. Incompletely bleached grains with inconsistent D_E values across temperatures will lack a 3ET “plateau.” Modes in the distribution of D_E values for fully bleached grains can suggest depositional ages, subject to assessment of fading. We developed a Python code in a Jupyter Notebook environment for data analysis and visualization to expedite processing the large data sets produced by the 3ET protocol.The 3ET protocol was tested on a radiocarbon dated sequence of playa samples from California, USA and on a set of fluvial terraces in the Marlborough region of New Zealand as part of a larger project to reconstruct regional seismic history. Where standard pIRIR apparent ages can be inconsistent or ambiguous, 3ET age estimates produce generally consistent apparent ages. Modes of 3ET plateaus can be used to infer the most recent and prior events that resulted in a sub-population of grains being fully bleached. These initial results suggest that the 3ET method can be useful to characterize both the age and degree of bleaching of depositional events.  相似文献