Extended-range luminescence dating of quartz and alkali feldspar from aeolian sediments in the eastern Mediterranean

Abstract

Abstract. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) of quartz is an established technique for dating late Pleistocene to late Holocene sediments. Unfortunately, this method is often limited to up to 100 ka (thousands of years). Recent developments in new extended-range luminescence techniques show great potential for dating older sediments of middle and even early Pleistocene age. These methods include thermally transferred OSL (TT-OSL) and violet stimulated luminescence (VSL) for quartz and post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (pIRIR) for feldspar. Here we investigate the luminescence behaviour of the TT-OSL, VSL, and pIRIR signals of quartz and feldspar minerals of aeolian sediments of Nilotic origin from the eastern Mediterranean. We sampled a 15 m thick sequence (Kerem Shalom) comprising sandy calcic palaeosols, which is part of a sand sheet that covers an extensive region in south-western Israel. Dose recovery and bleaching experiments under natural conditions indicated that the pIRIR250 signal is the most suitable for dating the Nilotic feldspar. Luminescence intensity profiles revealed natural saturation of the three signals at the same depth of ∼6 m, indicating that ages of samples below that depth are minimum ages. Using TT-OSL and pIRIR250, a minimum age of 715 ka for the base of the section was obtained, suggesting aeolian sand accumulation along the eastern Mediterranean coastal plain already since the early Pleistocene. Our results indicate that both TT-OSL and pIRIR250 can accurately date aeolian sediments of Nilotic origin up to 200 ka and that minimum ages can be provided for older samples up to the early Pleistocene.

A Late Pleistocene Wetland Setting in the Arid Jurf ed Darawish Region in Central Jordan

“…100 and more than 200 ka, and the recalculated age of ca. 150 ka of Moumani et al (2003) near the base of Section 3, represent minimum ages because D e values higher than ∼150 Gy are considered as underestimated due to the approach of the dose response curve to saturation (Faershtein et al, 2020; Table 3). The minimum ages suggest that the onset of the accumulation of fine-grained sediments pre-dates the Late Pleistocene (Figure 3).…”

Expansion of eastern Mediterranean Middle Paleolithic into the desert region in early marine isotopic stage 5

“…For KF, De was measured on 1-mm aliquots (~ 50 grains) on stainless steel cups using the SAR protocol 78 . The post-infrared (pIR-IR) signal measured at 250 °C (pIR-IR 250 ) was selected after this temperature was found to balance between ease of bleaching of the signal and relatively low anomalous fading in samples with a similar geological source 56 . Anomalous fading was measured on four samples for up to 50 h following Buylaert et al 79 , averaging 1.3 ± 0.2% per decade.…”

“…Details of sampling in the field, sample preparation and measurements, dose rate evaluations and age calculations are presented in SI-5 Appendix. Quartz and alkali feldspar (KF) in the size range of 90–125 µm were extracted and purified using routine laboratory procedures 56 .…”

Exploring possible links between Quaternary aggradation in the Upper Rhine Graben and the glaciation history of northern Switzerland

“…This approach may combine low fading with a still quite rapid signal resetting by daylight, as demonstrated by the bleaching experiments, and no change in electron trapping probability during preheat. Indeed, Faershtein et al (2020) preferred the pIR-250 approach over pIR-225 and pIR-290, though some minor fading was observed in their samples (g < 1.6% per decade). Concordantly, Zhang and Li (2020) expect the highest potential to date old samples (up to 1000 Gy and possible beyond) by using pIR-250, but in connection with the application of a multiple-elevated-temperature protocol.…”