Details
| Originalsprache | Englisch |
|---|---|
| Aufsatznummer | 101711 |
| Fachzeitschrift | Quaternary geochronology |
| Jahrgang | 91 |
| Frühes Online-Datum | 6 Nov. 2025 |
| Publikationsstatus | Veröffentlicht - Jan. 2026 |
Abstract
Glacigenic sediments are challenging to date with luminescence dating technique, particularly with regard to resetting of the luminescence signal before sediment deposition. In this study, six samples from four different ice-marginal positions in northern Germany were investigated to test different luminescence dating methods that account for heterogeneous bleaching of meltwater deposits. Multigrain measurements exhibited agreement between fading corrected infrared stimulated luminescence (IR) and fading corrected post-infrared IR measured at 225 °C (pIRIR225) ages, suggesting the studied samples were likely well bleached, as these signals bleach at different rates. Single-grain measurements showed a high proportion of saturated grains (up to ∼33 %) in these samples. The single-grain results were therefore assessed using conventional single-grain analyses and the LnTn method. Accurate estimation of the overdispersion (OD) of a well-bleached grain population (σb) is essential for applying statistical age models. Because no suitable well-bleached analogue sample with comparable burial doses was available, σb was estimated by combining intrinsic OD (from dose recovery tests) and extrinsic OD in quadrature. Both De and Ln/Tn OD values exceeded the derived σb values, confirming that all studied samples are poorly bleached and that the Minimum Age Model (MAM) is required. MAM ages derived from conventional single-grain and LnTn approaches are generally consistent; however, standard MAM ages tend to be slightly younger than LnTn MAM ages, likely due to truncation of the De distribution through the exclusion of saturated grains. These finding demonstrate that (1) consistent IR50 and pIRIR225 ages cannot be considered a reliable indicator of well-bleached samples, and (2) σb and overdispersion values should be determined and interpreted carefully, especially for old samples with a large number of saturated grains. We recommend applying the LnTn method at the single-grain level when dating partially-bleached samples with grains close to saturation, to obtain more reliable luminescence ages.
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
- Erdkunde und Planetologie (insg.)
- Geologie
- Erdkunde und Planetologie (insg.)
- Stratigraphie
- Erdkunde und Planetologie (insg.)
- Erdkunde und Planetologie (sonstige)
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in: Quaternary geochronology, Jahrgang 91, 101711, 01.2026.
Publikation: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift › Artikel › Forschung › Peer-Review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Luminescence dating of glacigenic deposits from northern Germany
T2 - A comparison of multigrain aliquots and single grains K-feldspar methods
AU - Rahimzadeh, Neda
AU - von Soest, Niklas
AU - Tsukamoto, Sumiko
AU - Winsemann, Jutta
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors
PY - 2026/1
Y1 - 2026/1
N2 - Glacigenic sediments are challenging to date with luminescence dating technique, particularly with regard to resetting of the luminescence signal before sediment deposition. In this study, six samples from four different ice-marginal positions in northern Germany were investigated to test different luminescence dating methods that account for heterogeneous bleaching of meltwater deposits. Multigrain measurements exhibited agreement between fading corrected infrared stimulated luminescence (IR) and fading corrected post-infrared IR measured at 225 °C (pIRIR225) ages, suggesting the studied samples were likely well bleached, as these signals bleach at different rates. Single-grain measurements showed a high proportion of saturated grains (up to ∼33 %) in these samples. The single-grain results were therefore assessed using conventional single-grain analyses and the LnTn method. Accurate estimation of the overdispersion (OD) of a well-bleached grain population (σb) is essential for applying statistical age models. Because no suitable well-bleached analogue sample with comparable burial doses was available, σb was estimated by combining intrinsic OD (from dose recovery tests) and extrinsic OD in quadrature. Both De and Ln/Tn OD values exceeded the derived σb values, confirming that all studied samples are poorly bleached and that the Minimum Age Model (MAM) is required. MAM ages derived from conventional single-grain and LnTn approaches are generally consistent; however, standard MAM ages tend to be slightly younger than LnTn MAM ages, likely due to truncation of the De distribution through the exclusion of saturated grains. These finding demonstrate that (1) consistent IR50 and pIRIR225 ages cannot be considered a reliable indicator of well-bleached samples, and (2) σb and overdispersion values should be determined and interpreted carefully, especially for old samples with a large number of saturated grains. We recommend applying the LnTn method at the single-grain level when dating partially-bleached samples with grains close to saturation, to obtain more reliable luminescence ages.
AB - Glacigenic sediments are challenging to date with luminescence dating technique, particularly with regard to resetting of the luminescence signal before sediment deposition. In this study, six samples from four different ice-marginal positions in northern Germany were investigated to test different luminescence dating methods that account for heterogeneous bleaching of meltwater deposits. Multigrain measurements exhibited agreement between fading corrected infrared stimulated luminescence (IR) and fading corrected post-infrared IR measured at 225 °C (pIRIR225) ages, suggesting the studied samples were likely well bleached, as these signals bleach at different rates. Single-grain measurements showed a high proportion of saturated grains (up to ∼33 %) in these samples. The single-grain results were therefore assessed using conventional single-grain analyses and the LnTn method. Accurate estimation of the overdispersion (OD) of a well-bleached grain population (σb) is essential for applying statistical age models. Because no suitable well-bleached analogue sample with comparable burial doses was available, σb was estimated by combining intrinsic OD (from dose recovery tests) and extrinsic OD in quadrature. Both De and Ln/Tn OD values exceeded the derived σb values, confirming that all studied samples are poorly bleached and that the Minimum Age Model (MAM) is required. MAM ages derived from conventional single-grain and LnTn approaches are generally consistent; however, standard MAM ages tend to be slightly younger than LnTn MAM ages, likely due to truncation of the De distribution through the exclusion of saturated grains. These finding demonstrate that (1) consistent IR50 and pIRIR225 ages cannot be considered a reliable indicator of well-bleached samples, and (2) σb and overdispersion values should be determined and interpreted carefully, especially for old samples with a large number of saturated grains. We recommend applying the LnTn method at the single-grain level when dating partially-bleached samples with grains close to saturation, to obtain more reliable luminescence ages.
KW - Glacigenic deposits
KW - K-feldspar
KW - Multigrain
KW - Saturated grains
KW - Single grain
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105021090910&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101711
DO - 10.1016/j.quageo.2025.101711
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105021090910
VL - 91
JO - Quaternary geochronology
JF - Quaternary geochronology
SN - 1871-1014
M1 - 101711
ER -