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    Structural style and neotectonic activity along the Harz Boundary Fault, northern German: a multimethod approach integrating geophysics, outcrop data and numerical simulations
    (Berlin ; Heidelberg : Springer, 2020) Müller, Katharina; Polom, Ulrich; Winsemann, Jutta; Steffen, Holger; Tsukamoto, Sumiko; Günther, Thomas; Igel, Jan; Spies, Thomas; Lege, Thomas; Frechen, Manfred; Franzke, Hans‑Joachim; Brandes, Christian
    We present new evidence for neotectonic activity along the Harz Boundary Fault, a Cretaceous reverse fault that represents a key structure in northern Germany. For the fault analysis, we use a multimethod approach, integrating outcrop data, luminescene dating, shear wave seismics, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and numerical simulations. A recent sinkhole at the SSW-ward dipping and WNW–ESE striking Harz Boundary Fault exposes a NNE-ward dipping and WNW–ESE striking planar fault surface that cuts through unconsolidated debris-flow deposits thus pointing to young Lateglacial tectonic activity. The fault shows a polyphase evolution with initial normal fault movement and a later reactivation as an oblique fault with reverse and strike-slip components. A shear wave seismic profile was acquired to analyse the geometry of the fault and show that the Harz Boundary Fault is steeply dipping and likely has branches. Partly, these branches propagate into overlying alluvial-fan deposits that are probably Pleniglacial to Lateglacial in age. The outcrop data in combination with the seismic data give evidence for a splay fault system with steep back-thrusts. One of these back-thrusts is most likely the NNE-ward dipping fault that is exposed in the sinkhole. The lateral extent of the fault was mapped with electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) profiles. The timing of fault movement was estimated based on optically stimulated luminescence dating of the faulted debris-flow deposits using both quartz and feldspar minerals. Consistent feldspar and quartz ages indicate a good bleaching of the sediment prior to deposition. The results imply fault movements post-dating ~ 15 ka. Numerical simulations of glacio isostatic adjustment (GIA)-related changes in the Coulomb failure stress regime at the Harz Boundary Fault underpin the assumption that the fault was reactivated during the Lateglacial due to stress changes induced by the decay of the Late Pleistocene (Weichselian) Fennoscandian ice sheet. © 2020, The Author(s).
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    Quartz OSL and K-feldspar post-IR IRSL dating of sand accumulation in the Lower Liao Plain (Liaoning, NE China)
    (Warsaw : De Gruyter, 2017) Li, Yan; Tsukamoto, Sumiko; Hu, Ke; Frechen, Manfred
    The timing of the formation of extensively distributed sand dunes in the Bohai coastal area and its forcing factors are poorly understood. In this study, the chronology of a well-preserved sand dune located in Panjin Forest Park (PJ) in the Lower Liao Plain (LLP) is investigated using quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and K-feldspar postinfrared (IR) infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) (pIRIR) dating. For the pIRIR measurements, the combination of preheating at 180°C and pIRIR stimulation at 150°C (pIRIR150) is exploited. The quartz results show that the sand dune accumulated from c. 120 a (1890 AD) to c. 70 a (1940 AD) before present, and the underlying sandy soil sediments deposited from c. 5.0 ka to c. 0.13 ka as marsh sediment after the sea level highstand since the mid-Holocene. From the evidence in historical coastline records, the PJ sand dune is an inland sand dune and not a coastal sand dune. Based on further information of climate and temperature change after the Little Ice Age (LIA) and human activity in northeastern China, we conclude that the PJ sand dune accumulation was very likely impacted by the immigrants and land reclamation at the end of Qing dynasty. The fading corrected IR50 ages, the apparent and fading corrected pIRIR150 ages are consistent with quartz ages for two sandy soil samples but overestimate those for six sand samples. The overestimation of the feldspar ages is derived from the residual signal which has not been bleached before burial. The offset obtained from the difference between the quartz OSL and the feldspar pIRIR150 ages are ~20-160 a (predicted residual dose: ~0.08-0.60 Gy), whereas the measured residual dose after bleaching 4 h in a solar simulator yielded age overestimation of ~10-40 a (~0.05-0.16 Gy). The age discrepancy calculated from the predicted residual was larger than those obtained from the laboratory measured residuals. We conclude that the pIRIR150 of aeolian sediment is applicable for samples older than ~1000 years where the effect of the residual dose become negligible. © 2016 Y. Li et al.
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    K-feldspar pIRIR150 dating of the Late Pleistocene sediments in the NW Khangai Mountains (Mongolia) using a standardized dose-response curve approach
    (Lausanne : Frontiers Media, 2023) Li, Yan; Tsukamoto, Sumiko; Klinge, Michael; Sauer, Daniela; Frechen, Manfred
    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 (pIRIR150. 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 pIRIR150 and IR50 ages, the pIRIR150 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.
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    Luminescence Dating of Fluvial Deposits from the Weser Valley, Germany
    (Warsaw : De Gruyter, 2015) Roskosch, Julia; Tsukamoto, Sumiko; Frechen, Manfred
    Luminescence dating was applied on coarse-grained monomineralic potassium-rich feld-spar and polymineralic fine-grained minerals of five samples derived from fluvial deposits of the Riv-er Weser in northwestern Germany. We used a pulsed infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) single aliquot regenerative (SAR) dose protocol with an IR stimulation at 50°C for 400 s (50 μs on-time and 200 μs off-time). In order to obtain a stable luminescence signal, only off-time IRSL signal was rec-orded. Performance tests gave solid results. Anomalous fading was intended to be reduced by using the pulsed IRSL signal measured at 50°C (IR50), but fading correction was in most cases necessary due to moderate fading rates. Fading uncorrected and corrected pulsed IR50 ages revealed two major fluvial aggradation phases during the Late Pleistocene, namely during marine isotope stage (MIS) 5d (100 ± 5 ka) and from late MIS 5b to MIS 4 (77 ± 6 ka to 68 ± 5 ka). The obtained luminescence ages are consistent with previous 230Th/U dating results from underlying interglacial deposits of the same pit, which are correlated with MIS 7c to early MIS 6.
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    Geoarchaeological studies on Roman time harbour sediments in Cologne — comparison of different OSL dating techniques
    (Warsaw : De Gruyter, 2011) Lauer, Tobias; Bonn, Rainer; Frechen, Manfred; Fuchs, Magret; Trier, Marcus; Tsukamoto, Sumiko
    Due to the construction of a new North-South subway in Cologne, Roman time harbour sediments were exposed and were sampled for luminescence dating. A very good independent age control was given by the precise knowledge of the chronology of Roman activity and by radiocarbon ages of charcoal samples. Hence, different methodological approaches within luminescence dating were applied for Holocene heterogeneously bleached fluvial samples and were compared to the known ages. For one sample, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating was applied to coarse-grained quartz using a single aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol. After De-measurements, dif-ferent statistical approaches were tested (i.e. arithmetic mean, median, minimum age model, finite mixture model, leading edge method and the Fuchs and Lang approach). It is demonstrated that the Fuchs and Lang approach along with the leading edge method yielded the best matching OSL ages with respect to the known ages. For the other sample which showed feldspar contamination within the quartz signal, the post-IR blue stimulated luminescence (double SAR protocol) was measured in three different ways to calculate the De-value: with continuous wave (CW) stimulation with an IR-bleach at 50°C and at 225°C for 100 s prior to the OSL, and pulsed OSL (POSL). It was demonstrated that the IR-stimulation at 225°C has very good potential to remove the feldspar signal contribution as well as pulsed OSL, but the former might deplete parts of the quartz OSL signal. © 2011 Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland. All rights reserved.
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    Infrared radiofluorescence (IR-RF) dating of middle pleistocene fluvial archives of the Heidelberg Basin (Southwest Germany)
    (Warsaw : De Gruyter, 2011) Lauer, Tobias; Krbetschek, Matthias; Frechen, Manfred; Tsukamoto, Sumiko; Hoselmann, Christian; Weidenfeller, Michael
    The infrared radiofluorescence (IR-RF) dating technique was applied to eight fluvial samples that were collected from two sediment cores at the Heidelberg Basin located near Viernheim and Ludwigshafen in southwest Germany. Based on the IR-RF derived ages of the samples it was possible to establish a chronological framework for the Mid-Pleistocene fluvial deposits of the Heidelberg Basin. The results allow us to distinguish between four main periods of aggradation. The lowermost sample taken from 100 m core depth lead to an IR-RF age of 643 ± 28 ka pointing to a Cromerian period of aggradation (OIS 17-16). For the Elsterian it is now possible to distinguish between two aggradation periods, one occurring during the Lower Elsterian period (OIS 15) and a second during the Upper Elsterian period (OIS 12-11). For the so called Upper interlayer (or "Oberer Zwischenhorizont" - a layer of organic-rich and finer-grained deposits), the IR-RF results point to a deposition age of around 300 ka, with samples taken directly on top and out of this layer yielding IR-RF ages of 288 ± 19 ka and 302 ± 19 ka, respectively. Hence, the measured IR-RF ages clearly point to a deposition during the Lower Saalian period (OIS 9-8) whereas earlier studies assumed a Cromerian age for the sediments of the Upper Interlayer based on pollen records and also mollusc fauna. The new IR-RF dataset indicates that significant hiatuses are present within the fluvial sediment successions. In particular the Eemian and Upper Saalian deposits are missing in this part of the northern Upper Rhine Graben, as the 300 ka deposits are directly overlain by Weichselian fluvial sediments. It is obvious that time periods of increased fluvial aggradation were interrupted by time periods of almost no aggradation or erosion which should have been mainly triggered by phases of increased and decreased subsidence of the Heidelberg Basin. © 2011 Silesian University of Technology.
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    Optical dating of alluvial deposits at the orogenic front of the andean precordillera (Mendoza, Argentina)
    (Warsaw : De Gruyter, 2012) Schmidt, Silke; Tsukamoto, Sumiko; Salomon, Eric; Frechen, Manfred; Hetzel, Ralf
    Well constrained numerical ages of alluvial fan sediments are key to understanding the chronology of alluvial episodes and tectonic activity at the front of the Andean Precordillera. We test-ed the application of radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating in the distal part of an alluvial fan five kilometers north of Mendoza. For OSL dating a large number of aliquots (n > 70)-each composed of ̃50 quartz grains-were measured in order to obtain reliable burial ages despite scattered dose distributions. Owing to a feldspar contamination in all samples, an infrared stimulation was inserted before each OSL measurement, which reduced the feldspar OSL signal suc-cessfully. By using the minimum age model we obtained stratigraphically consistent burial ages of al-luvial deposits in a depth profile. The uppermost ̃1 m of sediment is composed of debris flow depos-its buried 770±76 years ago. Three plant remnants used for radiocarbon dating from the same layer, however, yielded ages younger than 350 years, which are interpreted to underestimate the deposition-al age. Underneath the debris flow, a major unconformity cuts a series of distal alluvial fan sediments with interstratified floodplain deposits, which are composed of sandy and calcite-rich silt layers, re-spectively. Three samples from this unit which were distributed over one meter of sediment thickness yielded statistically concordant OSL ages of 12.3±1.2 ka, 12.3±1.2 ka, and 11.7±1.1 ka. The deposi-tion of these sediments during the latest Pleistocene coincides with a phase of cool and humid cli-mate, which occurred before the alluvial fan propagated farther into the foreland. The overlying de-bris flow sediments are associated with alluvial fan incision during the arid Late Holocene. © 2011 Silesian University of Technology.
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    Chronostratigraphy of silt-dominated Pleistocene periglacial slope deposits on Mt. Ślęża (SW, Poland): Palaeoenvironmental and pedogenic significance
    (New York, NY [u.a.] : Elsevier, 2020) Waroszewski, Jaroslaw; Sprafke, Tobias; Kabala, Cezary; Musztyfaga, Elżbieta; Kot, Aleksandra; Tsukamoto, Sumiko; Frechen, Manfred
    Slope deposits with aeolian silt admixture are a widespread parent material of soils in the temperate zone but may be neglected when rates of soil production are quantified. The concept of periglacial cover beds differentiates slope deposits with or without aeolian silt admixture; yet there is a remaining debate on processes and the timing of their formation. A previous study done by us at Mt. Ślęża, SW Poland, concluded that slope deposits with variable aeolian silt admixture, or its lack, have a significant influence on the pathway of soil formation. The present work builds upon this finding, by adding further granulometric and micromorphological data from three representative profiles along a toposequence, in order to refine our understanding of local slope deposits and soil formation. Additionally, seven numerical ages using luminescence dating provide a chronological framework for our reconstructions and allow linking the forming processes of these pedosedimentary records to regional palaeoenvironmental conditions. The oldest aeolian deposits are of Middle Pleistocene age (>280 ± 19 ka) with interlayered palaeosol (marine isotope stage [MIS] 9 or older). Late Pleistocene slope deposits encompass the maximum loess thickness and are dated to MIS 2. Luminescence ages from the upper layers indicate shallow reworking, which we tentatively correlate to the Younger Dryas (YD). Two profiles with thick loess mantles have strong clay illuviation features, presumably formed during the Holocene. However, weak clay illuviation in the third profile with a thin loess mantle (having an age of YD) over granite regolith seems to have occurred before the Holocene, as only fragmented clay coatings (probably MIS 2 pedogenesis) could be found. © 2020 The Authors
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    Multiproxy approach to the reconstruction of soil denudation events and the disappearance of Luvisols in the loess landscape of south-western Poland
    (Amsterdam : Elsevier, 2022) Loba, Aleksandra; Zhang, Junjie; Tsukamoto, Sumiko; Kasprzak, Marek; Beata Kowalska, Joanna; Frechen, Manfred; Waroszewski, Jarosław
    Loess landscapes are highly susceptible to soil redeposition processes and thus may provide detailed insights into the record of denudation processes. Using optically stimulated luminescence dating and the soil micromorphology of 12 soil profiles, we reconstructed a complete record of denudation processes in south-western Poland. The first episode of soil redeposition took place around 9.1 ka. The denudation events that followed were attributed to the Neolithic (6.4 ± 0.3 ka), early Bronze Age (3.8 ± 0.2 ka), early and late Middle Ages (1.5 ± 0.1 ka and 0.7 ± 0.03 ka, respectively) and early Modern (0.4 ± 0.02 ka). As a consequence of the denudation processes, the soil cover in the studied area had been strongly reshaped. The predominant Luvisols had experienced progressive erosion processes that led first to a significant shallowing of the eluvial and argic horizons (truncated Luvisol) and, after some time, to their complete removal. Further thinning of the loess mantles had exposed geological substrates with very weak pedogenic alternations, thus pushing their transformation towards Regosol types. Similarly, Regosols occurred in toeslopes where freshly eroded material had been deposited, and where diagnostic horizons had not yet developed. Modern soil erosion rates in the studied loess area have considerably increased, and it is estimated that the Luvisol status may be completely transformed within approximately 80–300 years, if not sooner, due to progressive climate change.