Cryogenic wedges on the NE Qinghai-Tibet and Ordos Plateaus:Their characteristics,origin and OSL dating

Cryogenic wedges developed due to very cold,rather arid conditions during the maximum of the last cold event when the drying up of the neighboring China Sea resulted in the failure of the East Asian Monsoon.As the climate ameliorated and the Monsoon rains reappeared,ice-wedges developed.Further warming permitted thawing of the ice infillings accompanied by replacement of the ice by sediments partly from the host ground as well as from the surface by wind or sheet wash.In cases of extreme surface water flow on slopes after 10 ka B.P.,small baydjarakhs typically c.50 cm high developed,only to have the resulting hollows infilled by sediments carried by wind and/or sheet wash.These shallow structures form a network on top of many of the cryogenic wedges.This complex history makes dating the ages of the wedges difficult using OSL methodology.Unfortunately,past field work ignored the problem of the angle of the cut face to the direction of the wedge infilling when sampling the contents of the narrow wedges,resulting in potential contamination of the samples with the host sediment.Sampling of the larger deposits should be alright,but the likelihood of contamination makes the interpretation of the resulting OSL dates from the narrow wedges questionable.Primary wedges consisting of primary mineral infillings should still have similar OSL dates with depth for a given wedge,but the distinction between ice-wedge infillings and soil wedges is difficult since both can exhibit older dates of the infillings with depth.The available data suggests that ice-wedges were significantly more common than sediment-filled primary wedges.A protocol to avoid having to obtain large numbers of OSL dates by more careful field sampling and the use of grain size determinations is provided in the Appendix.

Sedimentary and OSL dating evidence for the development of the present Hobq desert landscape, northern China

The sedimentary sequence and landscape of the Hobq desert was observed through twelve profiles along five N-S sections extending through the entire desert.Aeolian sands were found to overlie the alluvial,diluvial,and lacustrine sediments in this desert.Optically stimulated luminescence(OSL)dating results were obtained from post-IR OSL signals of quartz fractions of sand samples at the bottom of sand dunes and hills by using the Double-SAR protocol.The OSL ages reveal that the latest sand accumulation began around 19 ka in the northwestern part and 9 ka in the eastern part of the Hobq Desert.Around 7 ka,the sand accumulation was strengthened and extended southward and northward 2 ka to develop the present desert landscape.Our study suggests that the aeolian sand accumulation around 19,9 and 7 ka resulted from the weakening of the Asian summer monsoon over this region.However,the rapid development of the present Hobq desert landscape since 2 ka was likely triggered by human activities in this desert.

Formation of present desert landscape surrounding Jilantai Salt Lake in northern China based on OSL dating

The Jilantai Salt Lake （JSL）, a lake of importance due to its salt production in China since the early Qing dynasty, is surrounded by sand dunes. Exploration of the development of these sand dunes will be helpful for identifying the forces underlying the desert landscape and for identifying a solution to protect the salt resources. Through field investigation, we found sand dunes overlying either lacustrine and bog deposits on the lake bed at a lower altitude or littoral sediments on the higher lakeshores. Optically Stimulated Luminescence （OSL） dating results indicate that sands started to accumulate around the JSL as early as the early Holocene （around 11 ka）, while the rapid development of sand dunes occurred within the latest 0.1 ka. By comparison with climatic documents and human activities in adjacent regions, the initiation of sand accumulation around the JSL as early as the early Holocene is considered to be the result of low effective moisture in the Jilantai area. However, the rapid development of the sand dunes in the vast area surrounding the JSL was likely initiated by the intensified human activities which occurred within the latest 0.1 ka under warm and dry climatic conditions.

Optically stimulated luminescence dating of sandy deposits from Gulang county at the southern margin of the Tengger Desert, China

Aeolian deposits from the deserts in northern China have been used for palaeoenvironmental research to understand aeolian sedimentology and its dynamic connection to past climate conditions. The Tengger Desert in China is sensitive to the waxing and waning of the monsoonal system. In response to past climate change, the southern margin of the Tengger Desert has evolved significantly since the last glacial period. However, previous attempts to date aeolian deposits in this region were mainly based on radiocarbon dating, which has problems when applied to aeolian deposits. Moreover, sedimentary records are limited. Accordingly, past aeolian activity in this desert remains poorly understood. In the present study, we dated sand samples from Gulang county at the southern margin of the Tengger Desert using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) to understand the history of aeolian activity in this region. Our samples represented well-sorted aeolian sands and sandy loess. Aeolian sands are evidence of dune field buildup and sparse vegetation cover whereas sandy loess is evidence of improved stabilization of sand dunes resulting from ameliorated vegetation cover. Certain samples showed a decline in the equivalent dose (D e ) values when successive integration intervals were applied, which resulted from unstable OSL signals from non-fast components in the initial part of the decay curve. In order to obtain reliable D e estimates, we investigated component-resolved and different background subtraction approaches, and compared the resultant D e estimates. We adopted the early background subtraction method to derive D e values. Luminescence chronologies and sedimentary records indicated that sand dunes accumulation occurred before 10 ka, and sandy loess developed between 9.5 and 7.6 ka when sand dunes were stabilized as a result of increased effective moisture levels. The transition between sand dune mobilization and stabilization emphasizes the significance of an effective moisture threshold in controlling aeolian activity. Mobilization of sand dunes at ~2.3 ka might be related to an increased aridity during the Late Holocene.

OSL chronology of a Palaeolithic site in a humid subtropical mountainous area of southeast China

The timing of Palaeolithic human activities in South China is still controversial because of the lack of a reliable chronology of archaeological sites.The Longdengshan Palaeolithic site(LPS),located close to the Wuyi Mountain of South China,represents the first discovered and scientifically excavated Middle Palaeolithic site in the Fujian Province.This site is of considerable significance for studying the diffusion and cultural connotation of early Homo sapiens in southern China.In this study,we present optically stimulated luminescence(OSL)ages obtained from medium-grained quartz collected at the LPS.The single-aliquot regenerative-dose measurements of red soil deposits collected at the same site yielded internally and stratigraphically consistent ages and similar errors,indicating a potential ability of the technique,and also reflecting the influence of various sedimentary facies on the test results.Our results indicate that the 38–63µm quartz grains were generally partially-bleached and had large values of over-dispersion in the palaeo-reticulated laterites of west Fujian.Some samples yielded unsatisfactory results,suggesting that the degree of bleaching of diluvial and alluvial deposits should be properly assessed before dating.We did not detect any enrichment/depletion of U,Th and radioactive disequilibrium.The effect of chemical weathering on the dose rate estimation was negligible.Therefore,we used a central age model and the maximum age model to calculate the age of two samples,respectively,and the minimum age model to calculate the ages of the rest of the samples.The OSL ages of the samples ranged from 27.09±2.30 ka to 54.65±7.39 ka for the 38–63µm quartz size fraction,and roughly corresponded to the Marine Isotope Stage 3.In addition,three ages out of five are based on the calculation of minimum ages in this research,which needs to be further verified by other dating methods.

Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dating of Sediments from the Pearl River Delta, Southeast China

The PRD （Pearl River Delta） was subjected to two transgressions respectively in the latest Pleistocene and Holocene. Position of coastal line of the latest Pleistocene transgression in some localities, especially at the center part of PRD is still uncertain. Thus quaternary sandy sediments in the central PRD are dated by OSL Optically Stimulated Luminescence） for determining the ancient coastal line. Samples are from Xiaohushan Hill at the center of PRD, where quaternary sediments deposited on a wave-cut platlbrm consist of two kinds of sediments： marine muddy-silt on the top and alluvial fine-sand in the lower part. The former is dated at 5.0-5.5 ka, which defines the time of Holocene transgression in the PRD. The alluvial fine-sand in the part is dated at 22-26 ka. For the alluvial fine-sand rests directly on a wave-cut platform, thus this wave-cut platform should have been existed before deposit of alluvial sand, i.e., formed during an earlier marine transgression that may have culminated in the sea level high at about 40 ka. The optically stimulated luminescence results are consistent with geological observations and compatible with TL （thermoluminescence） and ^14C ages from the same layers at other localities of the PRD.

Early Holocene environment at a key location of the northwest boundary of the Asian summer monsoon: a synthesis on chronologies of Zhuye Lake, Northwest China

The intensified monsoon increases summer rainfall and creates wet conditions in the Asian summer monsoon region during the early Holocene. Along with millennial-scale changes of the monsoon intensity, it is still unclear whether the boundary of the monsoon region changes according to monsoon variability. Investigations into the early Holocene environment in monsoon marginal zones are crucial for understanding the monsoon boundary changes. Zhuye Lake is located at the northwest edge of the Asian summer monsoon, the northern Qilian Mountains, which are less affected by modern summer monsoon water vapor. Previous studies have reached different conclusions regarding the early Holocene climatic and environmental changes based on different dating methods（^14C and OSL（optically stimulated luminescence）） and materials（shells, carbonate, pollen concentrates and bulk organic carbon）. In this study, we synthesized 102 ^14C dates and 35 OSL dates from ten Holocene sedimentary sections and ten paleo-shorelines in the lake basin. A comparison between ages from different dating methods and materials generally shows that carbon reservoir effects are relatively slight in Zhuye Lake while the disordered chronologies are mainly related to the erosion processes and reworking effects. In addition, proxy data, including lithology, pollen, total organic carbon and carbonate, were collected from different sites of Zhuye Lake. According to the new synthesis, the early Holocene environment was relatively humid, associated with high runoff and lake water levels. The result indicates that the monsoon boundary moves to the north during the period of the intensified monsoon. A typical arid-area lake was formed during the mid-Holocene when carbonate accumulation and high organic matter contents were the main features of this period. The lake retreated strongly during the late Holocene, showing a drought trend. Overall, the lake evolution is generally consistent with the Holocene Asian summer monsoon change, showing the monsoon influence to monsoon marginal zones.

Environmental change since mid-Pleistocene recorded in Shangshan achaeological site of Zhejiang

At about 173 ka BP of the late period of mid-Pleistocene, the second terrace of the river had been formed as a result of uplift happening in Shangshan area because of the climate, sea level change and tectonic action. Between 173-75 ka BP, aeolian deposited on the terrace, a layer of reticulate red clayey soil about 80-100 cm thick deposited and developed under the warmer and higher temperature. In the last glacial period, the drop of the temperature and the decrease of the precipitation induced the dust-storms increased, A layer of Xiashu loess about 1.0-1.5 m thick accumulated on Shangshan terrace in the last glacial, which has the reticulate red clayey soil buried. At the beginning of the Holocene （11500 a BP-）, temperature went higher gradually and precipitation got more, the pre-persons moved on the Shangshan terrace （11,400-8600 a BP）, which is one of the most important archaeological sites, and can connect the paleolithic culture with Neolithic culture. It could be assumed from the results that the lower reaches of the Yangtze River are the home of rice cultivation, too. The lower place to the west of the Shangshan site experienced the two cycles process of the fluvial facies and the lacustrine facies, indicating that the water source of the pre-historical Shangshan is the river water or lake water. Two AMS 14C age proved the water source disappeared more than 1000 years ago.

Paleoclimatic evolution indicated by major geochemical elements from aeolian sediments on the east of Qinghai Lake

As the largest inland lake of China, along with its unique landscape and geographical location, Qinghai Lake has got much atten- tion of the scientists for a long time. The precursors have done substantive researches by using the lake sediment, which deepen our tmderstanding of the climate changes in this region. Although sand dunes and loess sediment are widely distributed around the lake, so far the researches on geochemical elements from aeolian sediment have been less reported. In this paper, we selected a typical aeolian profile on the east of Qinghai Lake. Based on systematic sampling and analysis of seven major geochemical ele- ments, combined with OSL dating and previous researches, this paper discusses climate changes in the Qinghai Lake area since 12.5 ka B.P.. Our conclusions are： （1） Before 12.5 ka B.P., the climate in this region was dry, cold, and accompanied by strong wind-sand activities. （2） During 12.5-11.9 ka B.P., the climate became warm and wet. However, there was an abrupt climate cooling event during 12.2-11.9 ka B.P., which likely corresponded to the Younger Dryas event. （3） During 11.9 8.0 ka B.P., the climate fluctuated greatly and frequently from warm to cold, and three cooling events occurred. （4） During 8.0-2.6 ka B.P., the climate was warm and humid. （5） Since 2.6 ka B.P., similar to the modem climate, the climate was mainly dry and cold.

Application of Optically Stimulated Luminescence Technique in Exploring a Concealed Sandstone-type Uranium Deposit

Identifying ore-induced geochemical anomalies at the surface that indicate concealed deposits in buried areas remains a significant challenge in geochemical exploration. In this study, in order to trace the source of the geochemical anomalies, systematic luminescence intensity analyses were conducted on quartz grains from the Quaternary regolith at the Hadatu sandstone-type uranium deposit in the Erenhot Basin. The optically stimulated luminescence(OSL) ages were much older than the depositional ages of the Quaternary regolith. Moreover, quartz OSL ages were closely related to both borehole grades and sampling depths. Thus, the abnormal mineral OSL ages from near-surface sediments were ultimately controlled by the sandstone-type uranium deposits. This is identical to the rapid changes of quartz OSL ages(0.063 ka/cm) and equivalent doses(0.19 Gy/cm) with depths in a given sampling site. The instantaneous soil radon concentration was positively correlated with the quartz OSL apparent age, indicating their ore-induced origin and, as a result, their effectiveness in the exploration of concealed uranium deposits. Other parameters, including mobile-state uranium and;Po contents, were poorly correlated with quartz OSL ages and therefore should only be used with caution for geochemical exploration. This is the first time an attempt has been made to discriminate the ore-induced sources for different surface anomaly parameters, including instantaneous soil radon, mobile-state uranium and;Po contents for concealed sandstonetype uranium deposits.

Late Quaternary glacial chronology on the eastern slope of Gongga Mountain,eastern Tibetan Plateau,China

The Gongga Mountain is the largest area of modern glaciation in the Hengduan Mountains and,with a summit elevation of 7556 m,is the highest mountain on the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.During the Quaternary glacial-interglacial cycles the Gongga Mountain was extensively and repeatedly glaciated,and glacial landforms and outwash deposits from multiple glaciations are well-preserved in valleys,in basins,and on piedmonts.To constrain the glacial chronology of the eastern slope of Gongga Mountain,sample sites were selected based on the distribution and weathering of glacial tills,relationships among glacial deposits,and soil development on moraines.Dating of the tills and glaciofluvial deposits was undertaken with electron spin resonance(ESR) and optically stimulated luminescence(OSL).The ages of the glacial deposits can be divided into four clusters:2.2±0.5,11.9±0.6,35.9±2.7-58.0±6.3 and 119.2±15.9-194.2±32.8 ka.Five glacial advances in this region have been identified,which are equivalent in age to the Little Ice Age(LIA),Neoglaciation,marine oxygen isotope stage(MIS) 2,mid-MIS3,and MIS6.The largest local last glacial maximum(LGML) occurred on Gongga Mountain during mid-MIS3,characterized by a cold-humid climate,rather than the global Last Glacial Maximum(LGMG) of MIS2.The Gongga,Nanmenguangou(NMGG) and Yajiageng Glaciations occurred during the late part of the last glacial cycle,the middle of the last glacial cycle and the penultimate glacial cycle,respectively.On the basis of geomorphological,sedimentological,and compositional characteristics,landforms of the Moxi Platform and terraces can be grouped by facies and geochronology.In combination with the dating results,this analysis indicates the basal part of the Moxi Platform between Xinxin and the Moxi Hotel is correlative with the till of the Nanguanmen Glaciation(mid-MIS3).This basal unit has occasional lenses of glaciofluvial sandy gravel and lacustrine sediments.The remainder of the Moxi Platform and the terraces beside the platform are glaciofluvial deposits occasionally mixed with debris flow deposits and range in age from MIS3 to Holocene.

Crescentic dune migration and stabilization： Implications for interpreting paleo-dune deposits as paleoenvironmental records

Paleo-dune deposits have been widely used as a proxy indicator of past dune ac- tivity, which is further used to reconstruct paleoclimates. However, recent studies have criti- cally examined the reproducibility of dune chronologies and the complexity of paleo-dune deposits as paleoenvironmental records. This paper addresses questions on the paleoenvi- ronmental implications of dune chronostratigraphies that have been raised by those reviews, in the specific case of crescentic dunes, using a case study from the Mu Us dune field, north-central China. The processes of turn-over and stabilization of relatively small crescentic dunes are first investigated by observational evidence. In combination with the analysis of a simplified sand preservation model and stratigraphic records, the effect of dune morphody- namics on sand preservation is demonstrated. It is especially evident that thick, nearly in- stantaneously deposited sand units record dune stabilization near the very end of a dune activity episode, while thin sand units may signal the preservation of sand deposited earlier in episodes of activity. Interpreting the distribution of luminescence ages that indicate sand deposition over time is not as simple as assumed in some previous work. Low frequency of sand ages could indicate an interval of either dune field stabilization or extensive dune activity but poor sand preservation. A peak of sand age frequency likely represents a shift in dune field activity towards stabilization, not a peak of active dune extent, especially if it partially overlaps with an independently identified interval of stabilization （e.g. one recorded by pa- leosols）. The nature and magnitude of these biases in the distribution of sand ages over time are strongly affected by the magnitude of net sand accumulation, which is in turn related to sand supply, transport capacity and sand availability, and ultimately climate change. Rela- tively short dune stabilization and turn-over time （101 to 102 yrs） indicate that dune geomor- phic processes can quickly respond to short-term disturbance, but the chronology of that response must be interpreted in light of how those processes influence age distributions.

Uplift differential of active fold zones during the late Quaternary, northern piedmonts of the Tianshan Mountains, China

On the north piedmont of Tianshan Mountains, China, the Kuytun River and Manas River transverse the Dushanzi and Manas folds, resulted in 7-level and 6-level pedestal terraces, respectively, which are the tectonomorphic marks of folding and uplift of the Dushanzi and Manas anticlines since the late Quaternary. We have collected samples from deposits of all terraces for OSL （optically stimulated luminescence） geological dating using the SMAR （single-multiple-aliquot-regeneration） method on fine grains. We have also performed dating using the ~4C method on the samples from the deposit of terrace T1 along the Kuy- tun River. The results show that all these deposits are of the later phase of the late Pleistocene. Comparison of terrace dating and climate change since 200 ka suggests that the terraces TI, T2, T3, T4 and T5 along the Manas River formed in 6, 8.5, 10, 14 and 32 ka, respectively. The incision time of Kuitun River＇s T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7 terraces were 1.7, 14, 20, 25, 32 50 and 100 ka years ago, respectively. The terrace T4 along the Manas River and T2 along the Kuytun River were formed dur- ing the late part of the late Pleistocene, i.e., 14 ka. Since 14 ka, the incision of the Manas River has generated three levels of pedestal terraces, while that of the Kuytun River has only produced one level of such terraces. The latest folding and uplift of the Dushanzi anticline took place in 1.7 ka, while that of the Manas anticline occurred in 5 ka. Since 14ka or the later time of the late Pleistocene, the Dushanzi and Manas anticlines have risen by 40 and 95 m, respectively, implying uplift rates 2.7 and 6.8 mm/a for each.