RESEARCH PAPER
Multi-method luminescence investigations on quartz grains of different sizes extracted from a loess section in Southeast Romania interbedding the Campanian Ignimbrite ash layer
1
Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babeş-Bolyai University, Fântânele 30, 400294, Cluj Napoca, Romania
2
Interdisciplinary Research Institute on Bio-Nano-Science of Babeş-Bolyai University, Treboniu Laurean 42, 400271, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
3
Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Antropology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
4
Institute of Speology, Romanian Academy, 400006, Cluj Napoca, Romania
5
Chair of Geomorphology, Laboratory for Palaeo-and Enviro-Magnetism, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
Online publication date: 2013-12-20
Publication date: 2014-03-01
Geochronometria 2014;41(1):1-14
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
In this study we present luminescence investigations of four samples of loess bracketing the Campanian Ignimbrite/Y5 tephra at the Rasova-Valea cu Pietre site, on the eastern bank of the Danube River, southeastern Romania. Investigations involved SAR-OSL dating on aliquots of fine (4–11 μm) and medium-grained (63–90 μm) quartz, as well as single grain analyses on 125–180 μm quartz. Luminescence dating results coupled with glass-shard chemical fingerprinting assign the depositional age and origin of the ash layer to that of the Campanian Ignimbrite/Y5 tephra, dated elsewhere using 40Ar/39Ar to 39.28 ± 0.11 ka. Fine-grained (4–11 μm) quartz SAR-OSL analyses yielded ages of 44.4 ± 4.5 ka below the ash, and 41.4 ± 4.2 ka above the ash layer. Single grain analysis on coarse-grained quartz, however, demonstrates that coarse material from these samples exhibits low sensitivity and responds poorly to internal checks of the SAR protocol in comparison with the finer sediment. This observation highlights the need for more extensive investigations into the luminescence properties of quartz as well as into the origin of quartz contributions from different primary sources in the Lower Danube loess steppe.
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