<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Luminescence dating technology has been used for chronological constraints on lacustrine sediments due to the ubiquitous materials (e.g., quartz and feldspar) as dosimeters, and a relatively long dating range, compared with the commonly used radiocarbon dating method. However, quartz dating on the Tibetan Plateau may suffer from dim and unstable luminescence signals. In the current study, we investigate a lake-related outcrop from the shore of Cuoe Lake on the central Tibetan Plateau. Both coarse-grained quartz and K-feldspar fractions were extracted, and OSL and post-IR IRSL signals were measured from these fractions, respectively. Combining the stratigraphy analysis and dating results, this study shows that: (1) quartz appears to be unsuitable for dating because of very dim natural signals and even anomalous fading (average <italic>g</italic>-value: 4.30 ± 2.51 %/decade). The suitability of the applied pIRIR protocol measured at 150°C (pIRIR150) for K-feldspar samples was confirmed by a set of luminescence tests; (2) compared with the luminescence-based chronology, the 14C age of shells from the same sediment layer yielded older age by ∼7 ka, which is likely attributed to hard water reservoir effect in Cuoe Lake; (3) the lake level reached its peak and maintained high-stand during the early Holocene (∼9.4–7.1 ka). This study highlights the applicability of K-feldspar luminescence dating when the counterpart quartz OSL is insensitive and encounters anomalous fading.
</abstract>

Luminescence dating technology has been used for chronological constraints on lacustrine sediments due to the ubiquitous materials (e.g., quartz and feldspar) as dosimeters, and a relatively long dating range, compared with the commonly used radiocarbon dating method. However, quartz dating on the Tibetan Plateau may suffer from dim and unstable luminescence signals. In the current study, we investigate a lake-related outcrop from the shore of Cuoe Lake on the central Tibetan Plateau. Both coarse-grained quartz and K-feldspar fractions were extracted, and OSL and post-IR IRSL signals were measured from these fractions, respectively. Combining the stratigraphy analysis and dating results, this study shows that: (1) quartz appears to be unsuitable for dating because of very dim natural signals and even anomalous fading (average g-value: 4.30 ± 2.51 %/decade). The suitability of the applied pIRIR protocol measured at 150°C (pIRIR150) for K-feldspar samples was confirmed by a set of luminescence tests; (2) compared with the luminescence-based chronology, the 14C age of shells from the same sediment layer yielded older age by ∼7 ka, which is likely attributed to hard water reservoir effect in Cuoe Lake; (3) the lake level reached its peak and maintained high-stand during the early Holocene (∼9.4–7.1 ka). This study highlights the applicability of K-feldspar luminescence dating when the counterpart quartz OSL is insensitive and encounters anomalous fading.

Luminescence Dating of Lacustrine Sediments from Cuoe Lake on the Central Tibetan Plateau

State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment

CAS Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change

University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

Geochronometria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Luminescence dating technology has been used for chronological constraints on lacustrine sediments due to the ubiquitous materials (e.g., quartz and feldspar)...

Luminescence Dating of Lacustrine Sediments from Cuoe Lake on the Central Tibetan Plateau

Published Online: Dec 31, 2021

Page range: 304 - 312

Received: Jan 16, 2019

Accepted: Mar 02, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/geochr-2020-0002

Keywords
luminescence dating, anomalous fading, lacustrine sediments, Tibetan Plateau, Holocene

© 2019 Yandong Hou et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Luminescence Dating of Lacustrine Sediments from Cuoe Lake on the Central Tibetan Plateau

Published Online: Dec 31, 2021

Page range: 304 - 312

Received: Jan 16, 2019

Accepted: Mar 02, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/geochr-2020-0002

Keywordsluminescence dating, anomalous fading, lacustrine sediments, Tibetan Plateau, Holocene

© 2019 Yandong Hou et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
luminescence dating, anomalous fading, lacustrine sediments, Tibetan Plateau, Holocene