K-feldspar pIRIR150 dating of the Late Pleistocene sediments in the NW Khangai Mountains (Mongolia) using a standardized dose-response curve approach

K-feldspar luminescence dating has been widely applied to constrain the timing of Quaternary sedimentation in different environments. However, the measurements are time-consuming. Meanwhile, anomalous fading and partial bleaching are the two potential problems inducing dating uncertainty. In this study, sand-size K-feldspar grains extracted from 32 luminescence samples from the northern slope of the Khangai Mountains, Mongolia, were dated using the post-infrared (IR) infrared stimulated luminescence protocol (pIRIR(150). subscript shows the second stimulation temperature). The standardized dose-response curves (sDRCs) for luminescence dating, which could improve the measurement efficiency, were constructed. The K-feldspar luminescence chronology has been established after careful investigations of fading correction and bleaching degree of the signals. The sDRCs and individual DRC yield consistent ages, indicating that sDRCs are applicable for luminescence dating with an improvement in measurement efficiency. The fading corrected ages using the two fading correction models are generally in agreement. Based on age comparisons between the radiocarbon dates, the fading corrected pIRIR(150) and IR50 ages, the pIRIR(150) signal was not fully bleached for several samples. In contrast, some IR50 ages were overestimated due to fading over-correction. The investigated profiles have documented the sedimentary information since the last deglaciation.

Automated summary

K-feldspar luminescence dating is widely used to determine the timing of Quaternary sedimentation in various environments. However, the process is time-consuming and can lead to dating uncertainties due to anomalous fading and partial bleaching. A study in Mongolia used sand-size K-feldspar grains to establish a luminescence chronology using the post-infrared (IR) infrared stimulated luminescence protocol. Standardized dose-response curves were constructed to improve measurement efficiency. The study found consistent ages using the sDRCs and individual DRC, indicating their applicability for luminescence dating.