New luminescence-based geochronology framing the last two glacial cycles at the southern limit of European Pleistocene loess in Stalać (Serbia)

Abstract

Abstract:A new geochronology was established for the Stalać loess-paleosol sequence (LPS) in Serbia. The section is located in the interior of the Central Balkan region, south of the typical loess distribution, in a zone of paleoclimatic shifts between continental and Mediterranean climate regimes. The sampled sequence contains four well-developed paleosol and loess layers, a crypto tephra and one visible tephra layer. Optically stimulated luminescence measurements showed a strong dependency of preheat temperature on equivalent dose for one fine-grained quartz sample, which makes it unsuitable for dating. A firm chronology framing the last two glacial cycles was established using finegrained polyminerals and the post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (pIR 50 IR 290 ) protocol instead. The characteristics of dated paleosols indicate similar climatic conditions during the last interstadial and interglacial phases, which were different from the penultimate interglacial period. The tephra within the L2 loess, probably related to tephra layers also found in other sections in Southeastern Europe, was sandwich-dated. The results indicate an age between 118 ka and 141 ka. Furthermore, a weak pedogenic layer dated to between 126 ka and 148 ka gives a first numerical age to this soil formation in Southeastern Europe.

Re‐analysis of late Quaternary dust mass accumulation rates in Serbia using new luminescence chronology for loess–palaeosol sequence at Surduk

“…; Bösken et al . ), and along with our results, demonstrate that residual components are sample and site specific, and should be routinely assessed.…”

“…), Stalać (Bösken et al . ) and Tokaj (Schatz et al . ), it is associated with palaeosol development.…”

Direct and indirect luminescence dating of tephra: A review

“…As the origin of the bag tephra remains unclear, two possibilities are shown. Moreover, several volcanic fields (after Pouclet et al ., ) and the following loess–paleosol sequences discussed in the text are indicated: Paks (1; Thiel et al ., ), Basaharc (2; Frechen et al ., 1997), Rasova‐Valea cu Pietre (3; Anechitei‐Deacu et al ., ; Zeeden et al ., ), Caciulatesti (4; Constantin et al ., ), Lunca (5; Veres et al ., ), Urluia (6; Fitzsimmons et al ., ; Obreht et al ., ), Stalać (7; Bösken et al ., ), Harletz (8; Lomax et al ., ), Garjanović (9; Wacha and Frechen, ). [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com].…”

“…Most studies that try to date unknown tephras indirectly or use tephra deposits as independent age control for their geochronological investigations work with aeolian sediments, in particular loess and dune sediments Westgate et al, 2008;Demuro et al, 2013;Fitzsimmons et al, 2013;Veres et al, 2013;Klasen et al, 2015;Bösken et al, 2017). However, research on lacustrine (Shulmeister et al, 2001;Shane et al, 2002;Blegen et al, 2015;Karatson et al, 2016), marine (Sugisaki et al, 2010;Buylaert et al, 2012a), and glacial sediments (Kondo et al, 2007) was also conducted successfully.…”

Luminescence dating of eolian and fluvial archives in the middle and lower Danube catchment and the paleoenvironmental implications

“…Further south, the Stalać section is located in the interior of the Central Balkan region, in a zone of paleoclimatic shifts between continental and Mediterranean climate regimes. A firm chronology framing the last two glacial cycles was established (Bösken et al, 2017a). The lowermost paleosol (MIS 7) was characterized by stronger weathering indicating more humid and warmer paleoenvironmental conditions.…”