Luminescence Sensitivity of Rhine Valley Loess: Indicators of Source Variability?
Loess provides a valuable terrestrial record of past environmental conditions, including the dynamics and trajectories of air mass circulation responsible for dust transport. Here we explore variations in the luminescence sensitivity characteristics of sedimentary quartz and feldspar as possible too...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Quaternary |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-550X/5/1/1 |
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| author | Kathryn E. Fitzsimmons Zoran Perić Maike Nowatzki Susanne Lindauer Mathias Vinnepand Charlotte Prud’homme Aditi K. Dave Andreas Vött Peter Fischer |
| author_facet | Kathryn E. Fitzsimmons Zoran Perić Maike Nowatzki Susanne Lindauer Mathias Vinnepand Charlotte Prud’homme Aditi K. Dave Andreas Vött Peter Fischer |
| author_sort | Kathryn E. Fitzsimmons |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Loess provides a valuable terrestrial record of past environmental conditions, including the dynamics and trajectories of air mass circulation responsible for dust transport. Here we explore variations in the luminescence sensitivity characteristics of sedimentary quartz and feldspar as possible tools for identifying changes in source down a loess-palaeosol sequence (LPS). Luminescence sensitivity is a rapidly measurable index which is the product of interplay between source lithology and the history of the quartz or feldspar clasts. Variations in sensitivity of down profile may therefore reflect changes in sediment provenance as well as other factors such as weathering through pedogenesis. We undertake an empirical investigation of the luminescence sensitivity of quartz and feldspar from different grain-size fractions from the Schwalbenberg LPS in the German Rhine valley. We compare samples from a 30 m core spanning the last full glacial cycle with samples of oxygen isotope stage (OIS) 3–2 age exposed within nearby profile. We find an overall inverse relationship between quartz and feldspar sensitivity, as well as variability in sensitivity between different quartz grain sizes. Statistical analyses yield a significant correlation between IR<sub>50</sub> sensitivity from unprocessed sediments and clay content, and feldspar sensitivity and Si/Al ratios down the core. Since Si/Al ratios may indicate changes in provenance, the latter correlation suggests that IR<sub>50</sub> measurements on unprocessed samples may be used to provide a reliable, rapid scan of source variability over millennial timescales. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T14:04:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7c31dbd95fa1444eaeac5395f8f75c74 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-550X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T14:04:25Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Quaternary |
| spelling | doaj.art-7c31dbd95fa1444eaeac5395f8f75c742022-12-22T01:45:43ZengMDPI AGQuaternary2571-550X2021-12-0151110.3390/quat5010001Luminescence Sensitivity of Rhine Valley Loess: Indicators of Source Variability?Kathryn E. Fitzsimmons0Zoran Perić1Maike Nowatzki2Susanne Lindauer3Mathias Vinnepand4Charlotte Prud’homme5Aditi K. Dave6Andreas Vött7Peter Fischer8Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, GermanyResearch Group for Terrestrial Palaeoclimates, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, GermanyResearch Group for Terrestrial Palaeoclimates, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, GermanyCurt-Engelhorn-Centre for Archaeometry, 68159 Mannheim, GermanyInstitute of Geography, University of Mainz, 55128 Mainz, GermanyResearch Group for Terrestrial Palaeoclimates, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, GermanyInstitute of Geography, University of Mainz, 55128 Mainz, GermanyInstitute of Geography, University of Mainz, 55128 Mainz, GermanyLoess provides a valuable terrestrial record of past environmental conditions, including the dynamics and trajectories of air mass circulation responsible for dust transport. Here we explore variations in the luminescence sensitivity characteristics of sedimentary quartz and feldspar as possible tools for identifying changes in source down a loess-palaeosol sequence (LPS). Luminescence sensitivity is a rapidly measurable index which is the product of interplay between source lithology and the history of the quartz or feldspar clasts. Variations in sensitivity of down profile may therefore reflect changes in sediment provenance as well as other factors such as weathering through pedogenesis. We undertake an empirical investigation of the luminescence sensitivity of quartz and feldspar from different grain-size fractions from the Schwalbenberg LPS in the German Rhine valley. We compare samples from a 30 m core spanning the last full glacial cycle with samples of oxygen isotope stage (OIS) 3–2 age exposed within nearby profile. We find an overall inverse relationship between quartz and feldspar sensitivity, as well as variability in sensitivity between different quartz grain sizes. Statistical analyses yield a significant correlation between IR<sub>50</sub> sensitivity from unprocessed sediments and clay content, and feldspar sensitivity and Si/Al ratios down the core. Since Si/Al ratios may indicate changes in provenance, the latter correlation suggests that IR<sub>50</sub> measurements on unprocessed samples may be used to provide a reliable, rapid scan of source variability over millennial timescales.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-550X/5/1/1loess-palaeosol sequencesluminescence signal sensitivitySchwalbenbergsediment provenanceoptically stimulated luminescenceinfrared stimulated luminescence |
| spellingShingle | Kathryn E. Fitzsimmons Zoran Perić Maike Nowatzki Susanne Lindauer Mathias Vinnepand Charlotte Prud’homme Aditi K. Dave Andreas Vött Peter Fischer Luminescence Sensitivity of Rhine Valley Loess: Indicators of Source Variability? Quaternary loess-palaeosol sequences luminescence signal sensitivity Schwalbenberg sediment provenance optically stimulated luminescence infrared stimulated luminescence |
| title | Luminescence Sensitivity of Rhine Valley Loess: Indicators of Source Variability? |
| title_full | Luminescence Sensitivity of Rhine Valley Loess: Indicators of Source Variability? |
| title_fullStr | Luminescence Sensitivity of Rhine Valley Loess: Indicators of Source Variability? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Luminescence Sensitivity of Rhine Valley Loess: Indicators of Source Variability? |
| title_short | Luminescence Sensitivity of Rhine Valley Loess: Indicators of Source Variability? |
| title_sort | luminescence sensitivity of rhine valley loess indicators of source variability |
| topic | loess-palaeosol sequences luminescence signal sensitivity Schwalbenberg sediment provenance optically stimulated luminescence infrared stimulated luminescence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-550X/5/1/1 |
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