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    Luminescence chronology of the Velika Vrbica loess-palaeosol sequence (Wallachian Basin): Evaluating quartz and K-feldspar signals from MIS 5 to the Holocene


    Perić, Zoran M., Ryan, Cathal S., Bosnić, Milica G., Krsmanović, Petar, Thompson, Warren, Alexanderson, Helena and Marković, Slobodan B. (2026) Luminescence chronology of the Velika Vrbica loess-palaeosol sequence (Wallachian Basin): Evaluating quartz and K-feldspar signals from MIS 5 to the Holocene. Quaternary Geochronology, 92 (101726). pp. 1-16. ISSN 18711014

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    Abstract

    The Velika Vrbica loess-palaeosol sequence, situated on the south-western bank of the Danube River in northeastern Serbia, represents one of the key Quaternary records in the lower Danube basin, covering the MIS 5- MIS 1 period. Previous investigations of the upper 500 cm established a high-resolution chronology and revealed unexpected patterns of dust accumulation during interstadial phases. In this study, we extend the analysis to the full ~12 m thickness of the sequence, spanning from Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 to the Holocene, with emphasis on refining the geochronological framework and testing the performance of different luminescence signals. A comprehensive set of quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and K-feldspar post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (pIRIR290) ages, complemented by linear modulated OSL (LMOSL) analyses, provides a robust chronology. Bayesian age-depth modelling constrains the timing of key stratigraphic units, including the S1 palaeosol (MIS 5), the overlying L1 loess (MIS 4–2) with its interstadial palaeosol (L1SS1), and the Holocene soil (S0). Quartz and K-feldspar ages display systematic differences: younger deposits show feldspar overestimation consistent with incomplete bleaching, whereas older horizons (MIS 5–4) yield excellent agreement between the two signals. LM-OSL results confirm that the fast component dominates most of the profile, supporting the reliability of equivalent dose determinations across multiple stratigraphic units. The resulting chronology demonstrates that the Velika Vrbica site preserves a continuous record of loess accumulation and pedogenesis over the last ~130 ka. These findings not only refine the temporal framework for southeastern European loess but also provide an important evaluation of the applicability and limitations of quartz and K-feldspar luminescence signals in establishing long-term chronologies.
    Item Type: Article
    Additional Information: The research of ZMP on Danube Basin loess chronology was funded by the Royal Physiographic Society in Lund (grants 42788 and 43046). SBM acknowledges the Silesian Technical University Professorship, awarded under the Excellence Initiative - Research University Programme. MGB received support from the L’ Or´eal-UNESCO For Women in Science award and Western Balkan 6 –Visegrad 4 Fellowship #62470105. Furthermore, this work is part of the project "The Loess Plateau Margins: Towards Innovative Sustainable Conservation - LAMINATION" (#17807), funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia. All experimental work was carried out at the Lu2 D2 infrastructure (The Lund Luminescence centre for Dating and Dosimetry). SBM and MGB gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia (Grants No. 451-03-137/2025–03/200125 & 451-03-136/ 2025–03/200125).
    Keywords: Quartz OSL dating; K-feldspar pIRIR 290 signal; Linear modulated OSL; LM-OSL; Bayesian age-depth modelling; Loess;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Social Sciences > Geography
    Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Institutes > Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units, ICARUS
    Item ID: 21322
    Identification Number: 10.1016/j.quageo.2026.101726
    Depositing User: ICARUS Geography
    Date Deposited: 19 Mar 2026 12:35
    Journal or Publication Title: Quaternary Geochronology
    Publisher: Elsevier
    Refereed: Yes
    Related URLs:
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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