Pub Date : 2025-09-26DOI: 10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101706
Benjamin Michel Läuchli , Paul Christian Augustinus , Jenni Louise Hopkins
Tephrochronology has proven to be a reliable dating tool in the context of northern New Zealand lakes due to the numerous volcanic centres on the North Island that have repeatedly erupted during the late Quaternary. The widely-distributed tephras often have distinctive geochemical compositions with many of these tephra layers preserved in the sediments that infill maar lakes in the Auckland Volcanic Field (AVF). Here, we present a revised age model for the Onepoto Maar lake sediment sequence, using 14 rhyolitic, seven basaltic, and two andesitic tephra layers with assigned ages as markers. These were integrated with bulk organic matter and pollen-derived radiocarbon ages to establish the new age-depth model. Improvement of the age model for the pre-45 ka section of the Onepoto record was based on the usage of tephras with refined ages: Eg2, Eg4, and Eg10 (Taranaki Maunga-sourced) and AVF D, AVF C, AVF B, and 90 AVF (AVF-sourced). The correlation of the Onepoto tephra horizons to the recently refined, multi-method derived, age model of the Ōrākei maar tephra sequence has improved the robustness of the new Onepoto age model. Consequently, this approach has enabled development of reliable age assignations for tephra layers contained in the Onepoto sediments beyond the limit of 14C dating. Accurate chronologies for lake sediment sequences, such as the one presented here, are vital for paleoenvironmental research. Thus, the revised Onepoto age model improves upon previous models for our study site, offering more robust age control for regional paleoclimate studies covering the last two glacial cycles. It will also allow the extension of the existing high-resolution paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic records developed from the AVF maar lakes beyond MIS 5e to at least late MIS 7.
{"title":"New age model for Onepoto maar, Auckland, New Zealand, based on a revised tephrochronology of the lake sediment sequence","authors":"Benjamin Michel Läuchli , Paul Christian Augustinus , Jenni Louise Hopkins","doi":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101706","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101706","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tephrochronology has proven to be a reliable dating tool in the context of northern New Zealand lakes due to the numerous volcanic centres on the North Island that have repeatedly erupted during the late Quaternary. The widely-distributed tephras often have distinctive geochemical compositions with many of these tephra layers preserved in the sediments that infill maar lakes in the Auckland Volcanic Field (AVF). Here, we present a revised age model for the Onepoto Maar lake sediment sequence, using 14 rhyolitic, seven basaltic, and two andesitic tephra layers with assigned ages as markers. These were integrated with bulk organic matter and pollen-derived radiocarbon ages to establish the new age-depth model. Improvement of the age model for the pre-45 ka section of the Onepoto record was based on the usage of tephras with refined ages: Eg2, Eg4, and Eg10 (Taranaki Maunga-sourced) and AVF D, AVF C, AVF B, and 90 AVF (AVF-sourced). The correlation of the Onepoto tephra horizons to the recently refined, multi-method derived, age model of the Ōrākei maar tephra sequence has improved the robustness of the new Onepoto age model. Consequently, this approach has enabled development of reliable age assignations for tephra layers contained in the Onepoto sediments beyond the limit of <sup>14</sup>C dating. Accurate chronologies for lake sediment sequences, such as the one presented here, are vital for paleoenvironmental research. Thus, the revised Onepoto age model improves upon previous models for our study site, offering more robust age control for regional paleoclimate studies covering the last two glacial cycles. It will also allow the extension of the existing high-resolution paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic records developed from the AVF maar lakes beyond MIS 5e to at least late MIS 7.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54516,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Geochronology","volume":"91 ","pages":"Article 101706"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145159198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-20DOI: 10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101709
Ting Cheng , Bo Li , Dongju Zhang
Potassium-rich feldspar (K-feldspar) is widely used in luminescence dating due to its high saturation dose, allowing the determination of ages for older sediments. Previous studies have shown that the ‘sensitivity’ of the post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (pIRIR) signal can retain a ‘memory’ of the pre-dose received but can be reset by sunlight bleaching. Building on the development of multi-aliquot and single-aliquot pre-dose multi-elevated-temperature post-IR IRSL (pMET-pIRIR) procedures, we investigate the performance of the single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) pMET-pIRIR procedure for K-feldspar at the single-grain level. Solar bleaching experiments demonstrate that the sensitivity of the IRSL and MET-pIRIR signals can be effectively reset by a 3 h solar simulator bleaching step applied after each regenerative cycle. Integrating the SAR pMET-pIRIR procedure with the standardised growth curve (SGC)-based LnTn method successfully overcomes sensitivity carry-over, mitigates anomalous fading, extends the dating range and improves measurement efficiency for K-feldspar luminescence dating. Equivalent doses (De) can be determined using the sensitivity-corrected signal (Lx/Tx), regenerative signal (Lx) and test dose signal (Tx), providing flexibility across different dose ranges and improving dating reliability through cross-validation. Application to three sediment samples from China, including samples with independent known ages, confirms the method's ability to obtain accurate De values up to ∼1600 Gy (∼440 ka), with the potential to date samples approaching ∼1 Ma using the Lx and Tx signals. The single-grain SAR pMET-pIRIR method offers a promising approach for dating older sediments and investigating heterogeneous luminescence behaviours among grains or post-depositionally disturbed deposits.
{"title":"Single-grain luminescence dating of K-feldspar based on the pre-dose MET-pIRIR protocol","authors":"Ting Cheng , Bo Li , Dongju Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101709","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101709","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Potassium-rich feldspar (K-feldspar) is widely used in luminescence dating due to its high saturation dose, allowing the determination of ages for older sediments. Previous studies have shown that the ‘sensitivity’ of the post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (pIRIR) signal can retain a ‘memory’ of the pre-dose received but can be reset by sunlight bleaching. Building on the development of multi-aliquot and single-aliquot pre-dose multi-elevated-temperature post-IR IRSL (pMET-pIRIR) procedures, we investigate the performance of the single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) pMET-pIRIR procedure for K-feldspar at the single-grain level. Solar bleaching experiments demonstrate that the sensitivity of the IRSL and MET-pIRIR signals can be effectively reset by a 3 h solar simulator bleaching step applied after each regenerative cycle. Integrating the SAR pMET-pIRIR procedure with the standardised growth curve (SGC)-based L<sub>n</sub>T<sub>n</sub> method successfully overcomes sensitivity carry-over, mitigates anomalous fading, extends the dating range and improves measurement efficiency for K-feldspar luminescence dating. Equivalent doses (D<sub>e</sub>) can be determined using the sensitivity-corrected signal (L<sub>x</sub>/T<sub>x</sub>), regenerative signal (L<sub>x</sub>) and test dose signal (T<sub>x</sub>), providing flexibility across different dose ranges and improving dating reliability through cross-validation. Application to three sediment samples from China, including samples with independent known ages, confirms the method's ability to obtain accurate D<sub>e</sub> values up to ∼1600 Gy (∼440 ka), with the potential to date samples approaching ∼1 Ma using the L<sub>x</sub> and T<sub>x</sub> signals. The single-grain SAR pMET-pIRIR method offers a promising approach for dating older sediments and investigating heterogeneous luminescence behaviours among grains or post-depositionally disturbed deposits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54516,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Geochronology","volume":"91 ","pages":"Article 101709"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145221465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-12DOI: 10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101705
Laila Patinglag , Marc R. Dickinson , Marcus Hill , Kirsty E.H. Penkman , Kirsty J. Shaw
Dating fossil samples helps reconstruct evolutionary history, aiding conservation efforts and mitigating climate change impacts. Amino acid geochronology of tooth enamel using the intra-crystalline protein decomposition (IcPD) approach allows direct dating of mammal teeth over Quaternary timescales (∼2.5 million years), beyond the limits of radiocarbon dating (∼50,000 years). However current methods require specialist equipment and relatively lengthy processing times. We developed a modular microfluidic system for chiral amino acid analysis of tooth enamel samples, consisting of three sequential glass microfluidic devices for sample bleaching, release of hydrolysable amino acids, and biphasic separation. Relative concentrations and D/L values of key amino acids were measured using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The microfluidic method reduced sample amounts from ∼15 mg to ∼1 mg and bleaching time from 72 h to 2 h. Amino acid compositions of modern and fossil samples were similar between the microfluidic approach and standard IcPD method, with good agreement up to D/L values ∼0.5 for phenylalanine (Phe) and glutamic acid (Glx). The method worked successfully across various genera and operators, with reduced sample mass and analysis time. This approach results in less destructive sampling of precious fossil samples and enables preparation steps in non-specialist labs, potentially allowing IcPD dating within the fossils’ country.
{"title":"‘Mammothfluidics’: Amino acid dating of fossil mammal tooth enamel using a modular microfluidic system","authors":"Laila Patinglag , Marc R. Dickinson , Marcus Hill , Kirsty E.H. Penkman , Kirsty J. Shaw","doi":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101705","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101705","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dating fossil samples helps reconstruct evolutionary history, aiding conservation efforts and mitigating climate change impacts. Amino acid geochronology of tooth enamel using the intra-crystalline protein decomposition (IcPD) approach allows direct dating of mammal teeth over Quaternary timescales (∼2.5 million years), beyond the limits of radiocarbon dating (∼50,000 years). However current methods require specialist equipment and relatively lengthy processing times. We developed a modular microfluidic system for chiral amino acid analysis of tooth enamel samples, consisting of three sequential glass microfluidic devices for sample bleaching, release of hydrolysable amino acids, and biphasic separation. Relative concentrations and D/L values of key amino acids were measured using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The microfluidic method reduced sample amounts from ∼15 mg to ∼1 mg and bleaching time from 72 h to 2 h. Amino acid compositions of modern and fossil samples were similar between the microfluidic approach and standard IcPD method, with good agreement up to D/L values ∼0.5 for phenylalanine (Phe) and glutamic acid (Glx). The method worked successfully across various genera and operators, with reduced sample mass and analysis time. This approach results in less destructive sampling of precious fossil samples and enables preparation steps in non-specialist labs, potentially allowing IcPD dating within the fossils’ country.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54516,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Geochronology","volume":"91 ","pages":"Article 101705"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145121226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-26DOI: 10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101697
Shi-Yong Yu
Estimating the endpoints of age sequences is a crucial task in archaeological and geological sciences. Here we advance this process by addressing three major limitations in previous approaches. First, we introduce a maximum spacing estimation method to simplify the conventional maximum likelihood estimation approach. Second, we apply Monte Carlo simulations to account for uncertainties in laboratory-derived ages. Third, we utilize a range of probability distributions to manage sampling variability, improving the accuracy and reliability of chronological inferences. This method is versatile, applicable not only for estimating settlement time from smaller datasets but also for determining the timing of rise and fall of cultures from larger datasets. Rigorous testing on both simulated and real-world chronological data demonstrates the practical utility and robustness of this method in handling discrete and uncertainty-prone age sequences. Comparative analysis shows that different statistical models significantly impact the estimation of chronological boundaries. Uniform and exponential models provide more constrained estimates with higher confidence, while normal and log-normal models introduce greater uncertainty. These wider intervals may reflect underlying uncertainties, such as stratigraphic variability or mixed-age samples, which restrictive models may overlook. We also highlight the sensitivity of age sequence estimates to data size, with important implications for interpreting the temporal boundaries of archaeological and geological events. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to carefully assess the nature and frequency distribution of their chronological data before considering the narrower estimates from uniform and exponential models as well as the broader intervals from normal and log-normal models to build more reliable chronological frameworks.
{"title":"Maximum spacing estimation of chronological boundaries in discrete and uncertainty-prone age sequences","authors":"Shi-Yong Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101697","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101697","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Estimating the endpoints of age sequences is a crucial task in archaeological and geological sciences. Here we advance this process by addressing three major limitations in previous approaches. First, we introduce a maximum spacing estimation method to simplify the conventional maximum likelihood estimation approach. Second, we apply Monte Carlo simulations to account for uncertainties in laboratory-derived ages. Third, we utilize a range of probability distributions to manage sampling variability, improving the accuracy and reliability of chronological inferences. This method is versatile, applicable not only for estimating settlement time from smaller datasets but also for determining the timing of rise and fall of cultures from larger datasets. Rigorous testing on both simulated and real-world chronological data demonstrates the practical utility and robustness of this method in handling discrete and uncertainty-prone age sequences. Comparative analysis shows that different statistical models significantly impact the estimation of chronological boundaries. Uniform and exponential models provide more constrained estimates with higher confidence, while normal and log-normal models introduce greater uncertainty. These wider intervals may reflect underlying uncertainties, such as stratigraphic variability or mixed-age samples, which restrictive models may overlook. We also highlight the sensitivity of age sequence estimates to data size, with important implications for interpreting the temporal boundaries of archaeological and geological events. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to carefully assess the nature and frequency distribution of their chronological data before considering the narrower estimates from uniform and exponential models as well as the broader intervals from normal and log-normal models to build more reliable chronological frameworks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54516,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Geochronology","volume":"91 ","pages":"Article 101697"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145011228","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-23DOI: 10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101696
Wenjing Yu , Andy I.R. Herries , Renaud Joannes-Boyau
This paper presents the analyses of Combined Uranium Series and Electron Spin Resonance (US-ESR) dating on enamel fragments from five fossil teeth from the Hrdlička Pinnacle of the Australopithecus africanus Type Site at the Buxton-Norlim Limeworks, near Taung, South Africa. The mammal teeth were recovered from two types of deposits, the A. africanus bearing Pink Claystone (PCS) deposit that formed as layers within the Thabaseek tufa, and the secondary Yellow Red Sandstone (YRSS) deposit that filled cavities eroded through the tufa and PCS. The teeth were dated using enamel fragments following the US-ESR procedure. Two software programs, USESR (Shao et al., 2014) and DATA (Grün et al., 1988) were employed for the age estimation, however, the USESR software encountered numerous challenges, especially in modelling uranium uptake history. This is the first attempt to date a Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene tufa deposit using US-ESR dating. The complicated history, poor preservation of the samples, and the diagenetic process in the fossil teeth samples make the dating very challenging. Especially as all samples suffered from uranium leaching and three of the five samples had high uranium concentrations in the enamel. This appears to be related to the nature of the tufa environment where high uranium concentrations have also been identified in secondary flowstones formed in caves within the tufa deposits. The final age estimate for the PCS deposits, contemporary with the Taung skull, is a minimum of approximately 2.4 Ma, based on the EU model. Similarly, a minimum age of approximately 1.8 Ma is estimated for the YRSS deposits. The USESR ages (∼2.0 Ma for the PCS deposit and ∼1.3 Ma for the YRSS deposit) were less preferred due to being derived using an extrapolation function. Nevertheless, all results are associated with many uncertainties and complexities and it should be approached with great caution. Another possibility is that the deposit might be challenging to date using the USESR method. The difficulties of dating old sites like Taung in South Africa and in particular tufa environment have been highlighted.
{"title":"The challenges of direct dating of fossil teeth from the Australopithecus africanus, Taung Child type site, South Africa","authors":"Wenjing Yu , Andy I.R. Herries , Renaud Joannes-Boyau","doi":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101696","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101696","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper presents the analyses of Combined Uranium Series and Electron Spin Resonance (US-ESR) dating on enamel fragments from five fossil teeth from the Hrdlička Pinnacle of the <em>Australopithecus africanus</em> Type Site at the Buxton-Norlim Limeworks, near Taung, South Africa. The mammal teeth were recovered from two types of deposits, the <em>A. africanus</em> bearing Pink Claystone (PCS) deposit that formed as layers within the Thabaseek tufa, and the secondary Yellow Red Sandstone (YRSS) deposit that filled cavities eroded through the tufa and PCS. The teeth were dated using enamel fragments following the US-ESR procedure. Two software programs, USESR (Shao et al., 2014) and DATA (Grün et al., 1988) were employed for the age estimation, however, the USESR software encountered numerous challenges, especially in modelling uranium uptake history. This is the first attempt to date a Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene tufa deposit using US-ESR dating. The complicated history, poor preservation of the samples, and the diagenetic process in the fossil teeth samples make the dating very challenging. Especially as all samples suffered from uranium leaching and three of the five samples had high uranium concentrations in the enamel. This appears to be related to the nature of the tufa environment where high uranium concentrations have also been identified in secondary flowstones formed in caves within the tufa deposits. The final age estimate for the PCS deposits, contemporary with the Taung skull, is a minimum of approximately 2.4 Ma, based on the EU model. Similarly, a minimum age of approximately 1.8 Ma is estimated for the YRSS deposits. The USESR ages (∼2.0 Ma for the PCS deposit and ∼1.3 Ma for the YRSS deposit) were less preferred due to being derived using an extrapolation function. Nevertheless, all results are associated with many uncertainties and complexities and it should be approached with great caution. Another possibility is that the deposit might be challenging to date using the USESR method. The difficulties of dating old sites like Taung in South Africa and in particular tufa environment have been highlighted.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54516,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Geochronology","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 101696"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144921587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-09DOI: 10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101689
Anna-Lena Geis , Mariana Sontag-González , Thomas Kolb , Mayank Jain , Markus Fuchs
The Upper Rhine Graben (URG) contains one of the most continuous sequences of unconsolidated Plio-Pleistocene sediments in central Europe. In order to understand the driving factors behind the sedimentation and erosion processes of the river Rhine fluvial system as well as the geological evolution of the rift system during the Quaternary and beyond, numerical dating of the sediments is indispensable. In 2020 and 2021, the Hessian State Agency for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology (HLNUG) carried out a new continental drilling project near Riedstadt-Erfelden in Hesse, Germany, to obtain further information on the development of the northern part of the URG. Here, we present geochronological information derived from a multi-method luminescence dating approach of samples from the upper section of the core. Preliminary results from optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) of quartz and infrared-radiofluorescence (IR-RF) of K-feldspar are complemented by new measurements using infrared-stimulated luminescence (IRSL), post-infrared-IRSL (pIRIR) and infrared photoluminescence (IRPL). The latter is a relatively novel approach with the usage of a potentially non-fading and non-destructive signal from K-feldspar. For the first time, we apply a multiple elevated temperature (MET)-pIRIR-IRPL single aliquot regenerated dose (SAR) protocol on fluvial samples and present fading rates for the IRSL and IRPL signals derived from the protocol. We find that IRPL ages agree generally well with Middle Pleistocene luminescence ages of previous studies and biostratigraphic data while showing negligible fading and less sensitivity to a varying test dose. OSL ages up to ∼65 ka match phases of aggradation reported in earlier studies. Although IRPL and IR-RF ages are thought to arise from the same dosimetric trap, discrepancies in ages observed from both signals could be due to the required difference in sensitivity correction methods, though we note that as the signals approach saturation, the ages from both methods converge (>200 ka). The pIRIR225 and pIRIR290 ages generally overestimate OSL and IRPL ages. Fading correction of IRSL50 ages was not successful as they still underestimate quartz ages. Our results indicate an Elsterian-Holsteinian (MIS 12-11) to late Weichselian (MIS 2) age of the Mannheim formation and a Cromerian (MIS 13–21) deposition of the Ludwigshafen formation.
{"title":"Multi-method luminescence dating of late Cenozoic northern Upper Rhine Graben fluvial sediments","authors":"Anna-Lena Geis , Mariana Sontag-González , Thomas Kolb , Mayank Jain , Markus Fuchs","doi":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101689","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101689","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Upper Rhine Graben (URG) contains one of the most continuous sequences of unconsolidated Plio-Pleistocene sediments in central Europe. In order to understand the driving factors behind the sedimentation and erosion processes of the river Rhine fluvial system as well as the geological evolution of the rift system during the Quaternary and beyond, numerical dating of the sediments is indispensable. In 2020 and 2021, the Hessian State Agency for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology (HLNUG) carried out a new continental drilling project near Riedstadt-Erfelden in Hesse, Germany, to obtain further information on the development of the northern part of the URG. Here, we present geochronological information derived from a multi-method luminescence dating approach of samples from the upper section of the core. Preliminary results from optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) of quartz and infrared-radiofluorescence (IR-RF) of K-feldspar are complemented by new measurements using infrared-stimulated luminescence (IRSL), post-infrared-IRSL (pIRIR) and infrared photoluminescence (IRPL). The latter is a relatively novel approach with the usage of a potentially non-fading and non-destructive signal from K-feldspar. For the first time, we apply a multiple elevated temperature (MET)-pIRIR-IRPL single aliquot regenerated dose (SAR) protocol on fluvial samples and present fading rates for the IRSL and IRPL signals derived from the protocol. We find that IRPL ages agree generally well with Middle Pleistocene luminescence ages of previous studies and biostratigraphic data while showing negligible fading and less sensitivity to a varying test dose. OSL ages up to ∼65 ka match phases of aggradation reported in earlier studies. Although IRPL and IR-RF ages are thought to arise from the same dosimetric trap, discrepancies in ages observed from both signals could be due to the required difference in sensitivity correction methods, though we note that as the signals approach saturation, the ages from both methods converge (>200 ka). The pIRIR<sub>225</sub> and pIRIR<sub>290</sub> ages generally overestimate OSL and IRPL ages. Fading correction of IRSL<sub>50</sub> ages was not successful as they still underestimate quartz ages. Our results indicate an Elsterian-Holsteinian (MIS 12-11) to late Weichselian (MIS 2) age of the Mannheim formation and a Cromerian (MIS 13–21) deposition of the Ludwigshafen formation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54516,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Geochronology","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 101689"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144611756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-01DOI: 10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101687
Marco A. Aquino-López , Nicole K. Sanderson , Maarten Blaauw , Joan-Albert Sanchez-Cabeza , Ana Carolina Ruiz-Fernández , J. Andrés Christen
Accurate dating of sediment layers is vital for deciphering Earth’s environmental history. This study addresses the precision and accuracy of lead-210 (210Pb) dating models, a critical tool in sedimentary research for understanding environmental changes. Traditional Constant Rate of Supply (CRS) methods, while widely used, often struggle with accuracy, particularly in complex sedimentation scenarios. We contrast the CRS model with Plum, an advanced Bayesian approach, using simulated 210Pb profiles derived from varied sedimentation processes. Our analysis reveals that even under ideal CRS conditions, the model’s precision does not significantly improve with additional data. In the contrary, Plum consistently outperforms CRS in both accuracy and precision, even with limited data inputs. As data volume increases, Plum’s performance improves markedly, unlike CRS. The Bayesian framework effectively addresses the complexities overlooked by CRS, demonstrating its superiority in refining sediment chronologies. This paper highlights the importance of incorporating statistical advancements in sediment dating techniques. By applying refined Bayesian methods like Plum, researchers can achieve more reliable sediment chronologies, essential for robust environmental studies and unravelling complex climate histories. Our findings suggest that embracing statistical innovations in geochronology can substantially enhance our understanding of Earth’s environmental changes.
{"title":"The impact of data reduction on classical and Bayesian 210Pb dating models","authors":"Marco A. Aquino-López , Nicole K. Sanderson , Maarten Blaauw , Joan-Albert Sanchez-Cabeza , Ana Carolina Ruiz-Fernández , J. Andrés Christen","doi":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101687","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101687","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate dating of sediment layers is vital for deciphering Earth’s environmental history. This study addresses the precision and accuracy of lead-210 (<sup>210</sup>Pb) dating models, a critical tool in sedimentary research for understanding environmental changes. Traditional Constant Rate of Supply (CRS) methods, while widely used, often struggle with accuracy, particularly in complex sedimentation scenarios. We contrast the CRS model with Plum, an advanced Bayesian approach, using simulated <sup>210</sup>Pb profiles derived from varied sedimentation processes. Our analysis reveals that even under ideal CRS conditions, the model’s precision does not significantly improve with additional data. In the contrary, Plum consistently outperforms CRS in both accuracy and precision, even with limited data inputs. As data volume increases, Plum’s performance improves markedly, unlike CRS. The Bayesian framework effectively addresses the complexities overlooked by CRS, demonstrating its superiority in refining sediment chronologies. This paper highlights the importance of incorporating statistical advancements in sediment dating techniques. By applying refined Bayesian methods like Plum, researchers can achieve more reliable sediment chronologies, essential for robust environmental studies and unravelling complex climate histories. Our findings suggest that embracing statistical innovations in geochronology can substantially enhance our understanding of Earth’s environmental changes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54516,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Geochronology","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 101687"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144579386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-06-18DOI: 10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101688
S.J. Armitage , D. Sahy , S.R. Noble , R.C. Pinder , J. Tindall
Luminescence dating of deep ocean sediments is hampered by disequilibrium in both the 238U and 235U decay series, leading to changes in environmental dose rate over time. This disequilibrium is caused by the incorporation of unsupported “excess” insoluble isotopes (230Th and 231Pa) and “authigenic” uranium isotopes without their decay products. Excess and authigenic isotope activity can be measured or modelled and used to determine dose rate evolution and estimate appropriate dose rates for age calculation. Comparison of measured and modelled data for two Ocean Drilling Program cores, 658B and 659A, implies that excess isotope activity needs to be measured. Calculated ages are relatively insensitive to small variations in authigenic isotope activity and this quantity can be modelled sufficiently accurately for age determination. Luminescence data for both cores are consistent with independent age models, though saturation of the quartz signal causes underestimates for some deeper samples.
{"title":"Direct dating of marine sediments using optically stimulated luminescence techniques: Insights from ODP cores 658B and 659A","authors":"S.J. Armitage , D. Sahy , S.R. Noble , R.C. Pinder , J. Tindall","doi":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101688","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101688","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Luminescence dating of deep ocean sediments is hampered by disequilibrium in both the <sup>238</sup>U and <sup>235</sup>U decay series, leading to changes in environmental dose rate over time. This disequilibrium is caused by the incorporation of unsupported “excess” insoluble isotopes (<sup>230</sup>Th and <sup>231</sup>Pa) and “authigenic” uranium isotopes without their decay products. Excess and authigenic isotope activity can be measured or modelled and used to determine dose rate evolution and estimate appropriate dose rates for age calculation. Comparison of measured and modelled data for two Ocean Drilling Program cores, 658B and 659A, implies that excess isotope activity needs to be measured. Calculated ages are relatively insensitive to small variations in authigenic isotope activity and this quantity can be modelled sufficiently accurately for age determination. Luminescence data for both cores are consistent with independent age models, though saturation of the quartz signal causes underestimates for some deeper samples.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54516,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Geochronology","volume":"89 ","pages":"Article 101688"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144490211","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-06-13DOI: 10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101685
C. Prieto-Torrell , J.L. Fernandez-Turiel , A. Rodriguez-Gonzalez , M. Aulinas , E. Beamud , M.C. Cabrera , C. Criado , H. Guillou , P. Vidal-Matutano , F.J. Perez-Torrado
We present a geochronologic study with unprecedented detail from 42 Holocene subaerial volcanic edifices of El Hierro Island, Canary Islands. The study of new and published K-Ar, 40Ar/39Ar, 14C, and paleomagnetic ages, constrained by stratigraphic, geomorphic, and anthracological criteria, significantly improves the geochronologic framework of the Holocene volcanism at El Hierro. Our combined experiments show that radiocarbon and paleomagnetic dating were the best methods to determine this young volcanism's age. Indeed, small amounts of 40Ar∗ detected in most dated samples do not allow for calculating geologically significant ages. The preliminary anthracological study of charcoals is recommended before 14C dating. Thirty-six eruptive events (86 % of the total) were retained for the geochronological model developed with ChronoModel combining radiocarbon and paleomagnetic and using the Bayesian inference. Seventeen eruptions were dated for the first time. The Holocene eruptive activity at El Hierro exhibits significant variability over time, with recurrence intervals ranging from 34 to 1078 years. The most recent subaerial eruptions were Lomo Negro, 1412 [1560, 1242] cal BP (MAP, mode of the posterior distribution, and 95 % highest posterior density (HPD) interval) and Montaña del Tesoro, 1059 [1206, 967] cal BP. In addition, historical records suggest possible submarine eruptions in 1721, 1777, and 1793, as well as the more recent and well-documented Tagoro volcano submarine eruption (2011–2012 CE). This recent low recurrence subaerial volcanic activity is unusual for an oceanic volcanic island in the juvenile shield growth stage. The volcanic edifices resulted from hybrid Strombolian monogenetic eruptions with alternating or simultaneous emission of pyroclastic tephra and lava flows. The absence of lava flows in the eruptions of the highest part of the island's summit is worth noting. This volcanic activity focused on the three rifts that configure the tetrahedral shape of the island, although the NW rift concentrated 50 % of the eruptions. These results contextualize the volcanic hazard of El Hierro in the face of eventual future eruptions.
我们对加那利群岛耶罗岛的42个全新世陆上火山大厦进行了地质年代学研究，其细节前所未有。根据地层、地貌和人类学标准，对El耶罗全新世火山活动的地质年代学框架进行了新的和已发表的K-Ar、40Ar/39Ar、14C和古地磁年龄的研究。我们的联合实验表明，放射性碳和古地磁测年法是确定这个年轻火山活动年龄的最佳方法。事实上，在大多数定年样品中检测到的少量40Ar *不能计算出具有地质意义的年龄。建议在14C定年之前对木炭进行初步的人类学研究。使用ChronoModel结合放射性碳和古地磁并使用贝叶斯推断建立的地质年代学模型保留了36次喷发事件（占总数的86%）。首次确定了17次喷发的日期。El耶罗全新世火山喷发活动呈现出明显的时间变异性，其复发间隔为34 ~ 1078年。最近的地面喷发是Lomo Negro， 1412 [1560, 1242] cal BP （MAP，后验分布模式，95%最高后验密度（HPD）间隔）和Montaña del Tesoro， 1059 [1206, 967] cal BP。此外，历史记录表明，1721年、1777年和1793年可能有海底喷发，以及更近的、有详细记录的塔哥罗火山海底喷发（公元2011-2012年）。这种低复发的陆基火山活动对于处于幼年盾构生长阶段的海洋火山岛来说是不寻常的。火山大厦是由混合的斯特龙堡单成因喷发形成的，火山碎屑熔岩和熔岩流交替或同时喷发。值得注意的是，在该岛最高峰的喷发中没有熔岩流。这次火山活动集中在形成岛屿四面体形状的三个裂谷上，尽管西北裂谷集中了50%的火山喷发。这些结果说明了耶罗岛在面对未来最终爆发时的火山危险。
{"title":"Reconstructing the Holocene volcanic past of El Hierro, Canary Islands","authors":"C. Prieto-Torrell , J.L. Fernandez-Turiel , A. Rodriguez-Gonzalez , M. Aulinas , E. Beamud , M.C. Cabrera , C. Criado , H. Guillou , P. Vidal-Matutano , F.J. Perez-Torrado","doi":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101685","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101685","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We present a geochronologic study with unprecedented detail from 42 Holocene subaerial volcanic edifices of El Hierro Island, Canary Islands. The study of new and published K-Ar, <sup>40</sup>Ar/<sup>39</sup>Ar, <sup>14</sup>C, and paleomagnetic ages, constrained by stratigraphic, geomorphic, and anthracological criteria, significantly improves the geochronologic framework of the Holocene volcanism at El Hierro. Our combined experiments show that radiocarbon and paleomagnetic dating were the best methods to determine this young volcanism's age. Indeed, small amounts of <sup>40</sup>Ar∗ detected in most dated samples do not allow for calculating geologically significant ages. The preliminary anthracological study of charcoals is recommended before <sup>14</sup>C dating. Thirty-six eruptive events (86 % of the total) were retained for the geochronological model developed with ChronoModel combining radiocarbon and paleomagnetic and using the Bayesian inference. Seventeen eruptions were dated for the first time. The Holocene eruptive activity at El Hierro exhibits significant variability over time, with recurrence intervals ranging from 34 to 1078 years. The most recent subaerial eruptions were Lomo Negro, 1412 [1560, 1242] cal BP (MAP, mode of the posterior distribution, and 95 % highest posterior density (HPD) interval) and Montaña del Tesoro, 1059 [1206, 967] cal BP. In addition, historical records suggest possible submarine eruptions in 1721, 1777, and 1793, as well as the more recent and well-documented Tagoro volcano submarine eruption (2011–2012 CE). This recent low recurrence subaerial volcanic activity is unusual for an oceanic volcanic island in the juvenile shield growth stage. The volcanic edifices resulted from hybrid Strombolian monogenetic eruptions with alternating or simultaneous emission of pyroclastic tephra and lava flows. The absence of lava flows in the eruptions of the highest part of the island's summit is worth noting. This volcanic activity focused on the three rifts that configure the tetrahedral shape of the island, although the NW rift concentrated 50 % of the eruptions. These results contextualize the volcanic hazard of El Hierro in the face of eventual future eruptions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54516,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Geochronology","volume":"89 ","pages":"Article 101685"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144338341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-06-11DOI: 10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101686
Asika Dharmarathna , Haidee Cadd , Cameron Barr , Alexander Francke , Quan Hua , David Child , Michael Hotchkis , Atun Zawadzki , Patricia Gadd , Chris Turney , Christopher E. Marjo , John Tibby , Jonathan J. Tyler
The development of reliable sediment chronologies is crucial for accurate interpretations of decadal to century-scale palaeoenvironmental changes in the late Quaternary. Although radiocarbon dating of sedimentary sequences is commonly undertaken, not all the organic fractions are representative of atmospheric 14C levels, resulting in inaccurate age models. Whilst terrestrial plant macrofossils are widely considered ideal dating material – assuming they are contemporaneous with the horizons being dated – they are often sparse or absent. In this context, radiocarbon dating of pollen extracts is increasingly being used as alternative dating material. Here, we used pollen radiocarbon dating, alongside a suite of macrofossil and bulk sediment dates, to develop a chronology for the Holocene sediments of Lake Surprise, in Victoria, Australia. 210Pb activity and Plutonium (Pu) concentrations and isotope ratios were also analysed to constrain the age of the uppermost sediments, augmented with recent historical markers, including the first arrival of Pinus pollen and the date of an earlier coring expedition at the site in 2004. With respect to the radiocarbon dates, we found an age offset between the plant macrofossils and bulk sediment dates of 260 ± 86 14C years and an offset of ∼340 14C years between plant macrofossil and pollen extracts. In both cases, macrofossil dates appeared to be “younger” than the bulk sediment and pollen dates. The offset between pollen and plant macrofossil dates was found to vary with sediment depth and generally correlate with carbonate concentration in the sediment. Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), we determined that the pollen extracts were not contaminated by either carbonate or charcoal. However, contamination by algal spores could not be ruled out, and we hypothesise that those algal spores may have assimilated aged dissolved inorganic carbon during periods of higher groundwater influx, thus altering the measured radiocarbon age of the pollen extract. Macrofossil and corrected pollen radiocarbon dates were incorporated in a Bayesian age-depth model which integrated 210Pb activities and Pu data and bomb pulse C-14 dates validated using recent historical age markers. Our results suggest that it is possible to generate a robust geochronological framework for Lake Surprise using radiocarbon dating back to at least ∼10,846 cal yr BP.
{"title":"Developing robust lake sediment chronologies using 210Pb, Pu and radiocarbon dating of pollen concentrates and macrofossil: A case study from Lake Surprise, Victoria, Australia","authors":"Asika Dharmarathna , Haidee Cadd , Cameron Barr , Alexander Francke , Quan Hua , David Child , Michael Hotchkis , Atun Zawadzki , Patricia Gadd , Chris Turney , Christopher E. Marjo , John Tibby , Jonathan J. Tyler","doi":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101686","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101686","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of reliable sediment chronologies is crucial for accurate interpretations of decadal to century-scale palaeoenvironmental changes in the late Quaternary. Although radiocarbon dating of sedimentary sequences is commonly undertaken, not all the organic fractions are representative of atmospheric <sup>14</sup>C levels, resulting in inaccurate age models. Whilst terrestrial plant macrofossils are widely considered ideal dating material – assuming they are contemporaneous with the horizons being dated – they are often sparse or absent. In this context, radiocarbon dating of pollen extracts is increasingly being used as alternative dating material. Here, we used pollen radiocarbon dating, alongside a suite of macrofossil and bulk sediment dates, to develop a chronology for the Holocene sediments of Lake Surprise, in Victoria, Australia. <sup>210</sup>Pb activity and Plutonium (Pu) concentrations and isotope ratios were also analysed to constrain the age of the uppermost sediments, augmented with recent historical markers, including the first arrival of <em>Pinus</em> pollen and the date of an earlier coring expedition at the site in 2004. With respect to the radiocarbon dates, we found an age offset between the plant macrofossils and bulk sediment dates of 260 ± 86 <sup>14</sup>C years and an offset of ∼340 <sup>14</sup>C years between plant macrofossil and pollen extracts. In both cases, macrofossil dates appeared to be “younger” than the bulk sediment and pollen dates. The offset between pollen and plant macrofossil dates was found to vary with sediment depth and generally correlate with carbonate concentration in the sediment. Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), we determined that the pollen extracts were not contaminated by either carbonate or charcoal. However, contamination by algal spores could not be ruled out, and we hypothesise that those algal spores may have assimilated aged dissolved inorganic carbon during periods of higher groundwater influx, thus altering the measured radiocarbon age of the pollen extract. Macrofossil and corrected pollen radiocarbon dates were incorporated in a Bayesian age-depth model which integrated <sup>210</sup>Pb activities and Pu data and bomb pulse C-14 dates validated using recent historical age markers. Our results suggest that it is possible to generate a robust geochronological framework for Lake Surprise using radiocarbon dating back to at least ∼10,846 cal yr BP.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54516,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Geochronology","volume":"89 ","pages":"Article 101686"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144272470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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