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Comparison of three K-feldspar luminescence dating methods for Holocene samples

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Geochronometria

Abstract

The luminescence dating of the K-feldspar fraction is an alternative way for samples that cannot yield reasonable equivalent dose (De) from quartz fraction with very weak luminescence signal. For testing the reliability of the infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) dating of K-feldspar, luminescence dating was applied to quartz and K-feldspar fractions respectively for several Holocene samples in this study. K-feldspar apparent ages using routine single aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol, K-feldspar ages using g value correction method and ages from isochron dating method were compared with quartz ages. It is found that the g value correction method cannot give reliable ages due to the large errors induced during measurements. The isochron dating method is effective to the sample with problematically external dose rate. However, isochron dating may introduce a relatively greater error during grain sizes — De curve fitting, therefore this method could obtain low-resolution ages for Holocene samples. Even K-feldspar apparent age from routine SAR protocol is relatively younger by about 10% than the quartz age, it still could establish reasonable chronological framework for Holocene samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China

    Guo-Qiang Li, Hui Zhao & Fa-Hu Chen

  2. Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China

    Hui Zhao

Authors
  1. Guo-Qiang Li
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  2. Hui Zhao
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  3. Fa-Hu Chen
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Correspondence to Hui Zhao.

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Li, GQ., Zhao, H. & Chen, FH. Comparison of three K-feldspar luminescence dating methods for Holocene samples. Geochron 38, 14–22 (2011). https://doi.org/10.2478/s13386-011-0011-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s13386-011-0011-z

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