TY - JOUR

T1 - A robust feldspar luminescence dating method for Middle and Late Pleistocene sediments

A1 - Buylaert,Jan-Pieter

A1 - Jain,Mayank

A1 - Murray,Andrew S.

A1 - Thomsen,Kristina Jørkov

A1 - Thiel,Christine

A1 - Sohbati,Reza

AU - Buylaert,Jan-Pieter

AU - Jain,Mayank

AU - Murray,Andrew S.

AU - Thomsen,Kristina Jørkov

AU - Thiel,Christine

AU - Sohbati,Reza

PB - Wasmuth GmbH und Co. KG

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Luminescence dating is used extensively to provide absolute chronologies for Late Pleistocene sediments. Nowadays,<br/>most optical dates are based on quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). However, the application<br/>of this signal is usually limited to the last ~100 ka because of saturation of the quartz luminescence signal with<br/>dose. In contrast, the feldspar infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) dose–response curve grows to much<br/>higher doses; this has the potential to extend the datable age range by a factor of 4–5 compared with quartz OSL.<br/>However, it has been known for several decades that this IRSL signal is unstable, and this instability often gives<br/>rise to significant age underestimation. Here we test against independent age control the recently developed<br/>feldspar post-IR IRSL approach to the dating of sediments, which appears to avoid signal instability. A physical<br/>model explaining our observations is discussed, and the method is shown to be accurate back to 600 ka. The<br/>post-IR IRSL signal is reduced by exposure to daylight more slowly than that from quartz and low-temperature<br/>IRSL, preventing its general application to young (e.g. Holocene) sediments. Nevertheless, this new approach is<br/>widely applicable (feldspar of appropriate luminescence behaviour is even more ubiquitous than quartz). These<br/>characteristics make this a method of great importance for the dating of Middle and Late Pleistocene deposits.

AB - Luminescence dating is used extensively to provide absolute chronologies for Late Pleistocene sediments. Nowadays,<br/>most optical dates are based on quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). However, the application<br/>of this signal is usually limited to the last ~100 ka because of saturation of the quartz luminescence signal with<br/>dose. In contrast, the feldspar infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) dose–response curve grows to much<br/>higher doses; this has the potential to extend the datable age range by a factor of 4–5 compared with quartz OSL.<br/>However, it has been known for several decades that this IRSL signal is unstable, and this instability often gives<br/>rise to significant age underestimation. Here we test against independent age control the recently developed<br/>feldspar post-IR IRSL approach to the dating of sediments, which appears to avoid signal instability. A physical<br/>model explaining our observations is discussed, and the method is shown to be accurate back to 600 ka. The<br/>post-IR IRSL signal is reduced by exposure to daylight more slowly than that from quartz and low-temperature<br/>IRSL, preventing its general application to young (e.g. Holocene) sediments. Nevertheless, this new approach is<br/>widely applicable (feldspar of appropriate luminescence behaviour is even more ubiquitous than quartz). These<br/>characteristics make this a method of great importance for the dating of Middle and Late Pleistocene deposits.

U2 - 10.1111/j.1502-3885.2012.00248.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1502-3885.2012.00248.x

JO - Boreas

JF - Boreas

SN - 0344-810X

VL - 41

SP - 435

EP - 451

ER -