Articles | Volume 7, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-7-475-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-7-475-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
How much K is OK? Evaluating different methods for K-concentration determination and the effect of the internal K concentration on feldspar luminescence dating
Institute of Geography, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Svenja Riedesel
Institute of Geography, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Luminescence Physics and Technologies, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Roskilde/Lyngby, Denmark
Stephan Opitz
Institute of Geography, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Anja Zander
Institute of Geography, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Anthony Bell
Materials and Engineering Research Institute, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
Hanna Cieszynski
Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Tony Reimann
Institute of Geography, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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We evaluate luminescence signal resetting in single-grain K-feldspar from modern fluvial analogues in Chile. Our results show that resetting efficiency is inversely related to the size of the natural luminescence signal. Additionally, high scatter in remaining natural signals at deposition challenges their use while dating old sedimentary deposits. We assess three correction methods for age calculation and explore various aspects relevant to luminescence-based sediment tracing applications.
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Geoscientific projects often struggle to manage complex data effectively, resulting in valuable information being lost due to poor findability and accessibility. To address this, we present a comprehensive research data framework for storing and processing data throughout a project, from fieldwork to data analysis. This ensures that datasets are clearly defined, reproducible and adhere to the FAIR principles (findability, accessibility, interoperability and reusability).
Svenja Riedesel, Guillaume Guérin, Kristina J. Thomsen, Mariana Sontag-González, Matthias Blessing, Greg A. Botha, Max Hellers, Gunther Möller, Andreas Peffeköver, Christian Sommer, Anja Zander, and Manuel Will
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We apply luminescence dating of feldspars to establish a geochronological framework for the sequence of accretionary hillslope deposition at Jojosi, which contains important archaeological artefacts. We test and evaluate four different dose models and their applicability to single-grain and multi-grain data sets containing up to 67 % saturated grains. Our results constrain erosional and depositional processes from 100–700 ka and human occupation of the area in early MIS 5 and late MIS 6.
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Soil mixing (bioturbation) plays a key role in soil functions, but the underlying processes are poorly understood and difficult to quantify. In this study, we use luminescence, a light-sensitive soil mineral property, and numerical models to better understand different types of bioturbation. We provide a conceptual model that helps to determine which types of bioturbation processes occur in a soil and a numerical model that can derive quantitative process rates from luminescence measurements.
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Geochronology, 6, 53–70, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-6-53-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-6-53-2024, 2024
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This study tested the application of single-grain feldspar luminescence for dating and reconstructing sediment dynamics of an extreme mass movement event in the Himalayan mountain range. Our analysis revealed that feldspar signals can be used to estimate the age range of the deposits if the youngest subpopulation from a sample is retrieved. The absence of clear spatial relationships with our bleaching proxies suggests that sediments were transported under extremely limited light exposure.
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Geochronology, 5, 377–389, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-5-377-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-5-377-2023, 2023
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This study presents the results of an outdoor flume experiment to evaluate the effect of turbidity on the bleaching of fluvially transported sediment. Our main conclusions are that even small amounts of sediment lead to a substantial change in the intensity and frequency distribution of light within the suspension and that flow turbulence is an important prerequisite for bleaching grains during transport.
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We present our model ChronoLorica. We coupled the original Lorica model, which simulates soil and landscape evolution, with a geochronological module that traces cosmogenic nuclide inventories and particle ages through simulations. These properties are often measured in the field to determine rates of landscape change. The coupling enables calibration of the model and the study of how soil, landscapes and geochronometers change under complex boundary conditions such as intensive land management.
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Dominik Brill, Simon Matthias May, Nadia Mhammdi, Georgina King, Benjamin Lehmann, Christoph Burow, Dennis Wolf, Anja Zander, and Helmut Brückner
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Wave-transported boulders are important records for storm and tsunami impact over geological timescales. Their use for hazard assessment requires chronological information. We investigated the potential of a new dating technique, luminescence rock surface exposure dating, for estimating transport ages of wave-emplaced boulders. Our results indicate that the new approach may provide chronological information on decadal to millennial timescales for boulders not datable by any other method so far.
Moritz Nykamp, Jacob Hardt, Philipp Hoelzmann, Jens May, and Tony Reimann
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Short summary
We evaluate different methods for the potassium (K) concentration determination in feldspars and the impact of the K concentrations on dose rate calculations for feldspar luminescence dating. Our results show discrepancies between published K concentrations and our measured K concentrations. Therefore, we emphasize measuring K concentrations via bulk measurements and single-grain techniques to obtain more accurate results.
We evaluate different methods for the potassium (K) concentration determination in feldspars and...