Chronology of Last Glacial Maximum sediments in the coast of Fujian, South China

• Published in: Marine geology Vol. 451; p. 106884
• Main Authors: Yongqing, Ren, Jianhui, Jin, Yunming, Huang, Xinxin, Zuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2022
• Subjects: Chronostratigraphic sequences; Funing Bay; Last glacial maximum; Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL); Transgression history; Transgression history; Last glacial maximum; Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL); Chronostratigraphic sequences; Funing Bay
• ISSN: 0025-3227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.margeo.2022.106884

The coast in South China is an important area for the coupling of terrestrial, marine, and atmospheric processes. Widespread loose sediments in the area likely recorded regional climatic and geomorphic processes since the Late Pleistocene, and these that can be deciphered through geochronology. In the present study, eighteen samples prepared from the FN1 core retrieved from the Funing Bay in the coast of Fujian were used for OSL dating. The single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) approach was employed for dating using three grain-size fractions of quartz, while coarse-grained K-feldspars were used for post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (pIRIR) dating of the core. Seven samples were also dated using the AMS 14C dating technique to establish the reliable chronology. The results reveal the following: 1) Minerals and grain size variations directly affect the accuracy of the luminescence dating. The present study demonstrates that cross-validation of the OSL dating data is an effective way to enhance their reliability. 2) Dating results from the three grain-size fractions of quartz in the upper section of the core are consistent within the error range, and these agree with ages from the AMS 14C method for the corresponding horizon. However, the OSL ages based on the three grain-size fractions of quartz and the coarse-grain K-feldspar differed for the lower section of the core (10.6–14.7 m). 3) Samples produced ages ranging from 25.4 to 0.8 ka based on the OSL dating method. According to a chronological framework starting from the Last Glacial Maximum and a palaeoenvironmental index, the sedimentation rate is partitioned into three main periods. Sedimentation rates during the periods between 25 and 21 ka and < 7 ka are higher than those for the period between 21 and 7 ka. These results suggest that the sedimentation rate was probably linked to the regional transgression events. •Multiple luminescence signals from coast sediments were analysed to obtain age estimates for comparison in the southeast China.•A ~ 25 ka chronology sequence was established for the Funing Bay coast deposits and the sedimentation rates of the FN1 core show comparative trends with other cores in this region.•Cross-validation of OSL dating results involving different minerals and grain-size fractions represents an effective approach for enhancing the reliability of the data.