Stanisław Fedorowicz

Luminescence dating of the Morasko (Poland), Kaali, Ilumetsa and Tsoorikmäe (Estonia) meteorite craters

Luminescence Dating of the Morasko (Poland), Kaali, Ilumetsa and Tsõõrikmäe (Estonia) Meteorite Craters The TL dating of sinter crust of Morasko meteorites proves that the extraterrestrial matter fell about 5000 yr BP. Similar data were obtained for the Kaali impact. The OSL analyses show incomplete bleaching of old rock material especially in the Estonian craters. Almost all data obtained for the immediate impact area indicate ages younger than the Quaternary morphogenesis. The method used seems promising for determining the age of impacts and the origin of small depressions of unknown genesis.

Stratigraphic position of fluvial and aeolian deposits in the Żabinko site (W Poland) based on TL dating

The known from literature Żabinko site is situated in the Warta Pradolina, within the dune field occurring on the bifurcation terrace. In the site we found fluvial, fluvio-aeolian and aeolian deposits, paleosols, and organic infillings of the inactive river channels. The purpose of the study was to determine stratigraphic position of the deposit units distinguished on the basis of lithofacial analysis, pedological description and thermoluminescence dating. The obtained results well correspond to the previously published ones, and new units were also found.

Mesopleistocene loess deposits in the Mamalyha 2 profile of Ukraine — interlaboratory comparison of the thermoluminescence dating results

The history of the interlaboratory comparison of TL dating results in Poland started in the 1980s. At that time the Lublin, Warsaw and Silesian laboratories made the first attempts at TL dating of the same loess samples from the Odonów profile. However, the cooperation ceased for many years due to great differences in the obtained TL age estimates. The next interlaboratory comparisons were made in the years 2000–2009 for the loess samples from several Polish (Dybawka, Tarnawce, Dankowice, Biały Kościół) and Ukrainian (Boyanychi, Halych, Velykyj Hlybochok, Yezupil) profiles. Most of the compared dates, obtained for the loess deposits from the Upper Pleistocene and younger part of the Middle Pleistocene, were consistent. This encouraged us to undertake the Gdańsk-Lublin interlaboratory cooperation in dating of 200-700 ka old loess deposits. Nine samples were taken from the Ukrainian profile Mamalyha 2 in 2009 for this purpose. The TL dating results indicate that comparable dates are obtained in two laboratories for loess deposits younger than 300 ka BP. The TL signal obtained in the Gdańsk laboratory for the samples older than 300 ka BP was saturated so such samples should not be dated by the multi-aliquot regeneration method. The results obtained in the Lublin laboratory for these deposits (489–682 ka) confirm that it is possible to date loess deposits older than 500 ka. It probably results from the use of total-bleach method with preheating at 160°C for the equivalent dose determination.

Depositional conditions on an alluvial fan at the turn of the Weichselian to the Holocene – a case study in the Żmigród Basin, southwest Poland

Abstract Presented are the results of research into the fluvio-aeolian sedimentary succession at the site of Postolin in the Żmigród Basin, southwest Poland. Based on lithofacies analysis, textural analysis, Thermoluminescence and Infrared-Optical Stimulated Luminescence dating and GIS analysis, three lithofacies units were recognised and their stratigraphic succession identified: 1) the lower unit was deposited during the Pleni-Weichselian within a sand-bed braided river functioning under permafrost conditions within the central part of the alluvial fan; 2) the middle unit is the result of aeolian deposition and fluvial redeposition on the surface of the fan during long-term permafrost and progressive decrease of humidity of the climate at the turn of the Pleni- to the Late Weichselian; 3) the upper unit accumulated following the development of longitudinal dunes at the turn of the Late Weichselian to the Holocene; the development of dunes was interrupted twice by the form being stabilised by vegetation and soil development.

GEOCHRONOLOGICAL AND SEDIMENTOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION OF INTERGLACIAL AQUATIC SEDIMENTS BASED ON TL DATING

Geochronological and Sedimentological Interpretation of Interglacial Aquatic Sediments based on TL Dating For the first time sedimentological interpretation of absolute ages obtained by thermoluminescence method on aquatic interglacial sediments was made. The analyzed size fractions of quartz grains were 160-250, 125-160, 100-125, 80-100 and 63-80 μm. The youngest and most reliable ages from 22 analyzed samples were obtained from the following quartz grain size granulometric fractions: 160-250 μm - 3 cases, 125-160 μm - 7, 100-125 μm - 6, 80-100 μm - 3 and 63-80 μm - 2 cases. Therefore, it may be concluded that the most suitable fractions for thermoluminescence dating are 125-160 μm and 100-125 μm. While evaluating the results of thermoluminescence dating it is necessary to take into account the procedure of sampling from layers of interest, their lithological composition, first of all granulometric, sedimentary environment, including sources of material, the material getting to the load flows, transportation mode and basin differentiation. From all the granulometric fractions of a sample, age of fine-grained fraction (63-80 μm) may be explained by the input of aeolian dust to a basin and sedimentation along with clasts brought to a lake by water flows. Aeolian sand storms performed precise multigenetic sedimentation that was active during that time. Bimodality of granulometric composition is defined by input of material from various sources of different composition. Older ages were obtained in the case of positive granulometric asymmetry. After sedimentological interpretation of thermoluminescence (TL) dating we can state that formation of aquatic fine-grained sands occurred 83.6±10 - 116.1±13 and 130.2±15 - 276.4±32 thousand years (ky) ago. Those geochronological zones coincide with interg lacial periods of Merkine (75.5-114 ky) and Snaigupele (180-280 ky) in Lithuania.

Chronology of Aeolian Events Recorded in the Karczmiska Dune (Lublin Upland) in the Light of Lithofacial Analysis, 14C and TL Dating

Chronology of Aeolian Events Recorded in the Karczmiska Dune (Lublin Upland) in the Light of Lithofacial Analysis, 14C and TL Dating The article studies an average-size parabolic dune located in the northern part of the Chodel Basin, Lublin Upland, Poland within the extensive dune field which covers the contact area of the loess patch slope and the high sandy terrace. Its complex structure and the presence of terrace sand and loess in the floor inspired the authors to conduct detailed lithological studies, as well as TL and 14C dating. As a result, it was possible to determine the mechanism and age of aeolian accumulation cycles in the dune, which contains very good representative evidence of aeolian events in the Lublin Upland.

Dating the Morasko meteorite fall by natural thermoluminescence of the fusion crust

Abstract The date of fall of the Morasko iron meteorite was determined by means of thermoluminescence measurements of the fusion crust and related local materials. Three small pieces, commonly referred to as ‘shrapnel’, were used. The results obtained are 4.5-5.0 ka, which is in good agreement with previous estimates of 4-6 ka on the basis of radiometric, do-simetric and palynological methods.

Holocene sediments of the Ustka Cliff (Northern Poland) in view of radiometric dating

The cliff in Ustka is an active one. The area is one of the most eroded sea shores of the Polish coast. The Ustka Cliff mainly consists of Holocene sandy deposits, but its basis is built of glacial till and clay. Field search allowed to recognize the structure and sedimentary conditions of Holocene deposits exposed in the cliff. A comparison of dating results obtained for fossil soils and peat as well as aeolian deposits, using 14C and TL methods, respectively, with available literature records is presented. The evaluation of results obtained allowed to define three main dune-forming phases for the first time for this part of the Polish coast. During the research studies new data on the processes and environmental conditions was gained and the development of structure of the area during the last 10 thousand years was reconstructed. The analysis of available data from other sections of the southern Baltic coast shows that results obtained are age similar to those determined for the Łeba Spit. The research is part of a project concerning the geomorphology of the Ustka Bay.

Age Correlation of Loess with other Pleistocene Deposits on the Basis of TL and OSL Dating

Age Correlation of Loess with other Pleistocene Deposits on the Basis of TL and OSL Dating The author collected 26 samples from six loess profiles located in Poland and Ukraine and 16 samples from three galcigenic profiles in Lithuania. TL and OSL dates were obtained for the samples. The TL dates were calculated in the Gdańsk University laboratory and the OSL dates were obtained by the Institute of Physics Laboratory at the Silesian Technical University. The dating results were referred to the OSL = f(TL) chart. In respect of luminescent dating results, the Upper Vistulian loess shows a high similarity of TL and OSL dates. It means that loess formation took place in conditions conductive to ensure that solar radiation the grains were exposed to reduce the energy accumulated in them. The TL dates of Middle and Upper Vistulian loess are slightly older than the OSL dates. The largest discrepancies were found in soil sample dates. The analysis of glacigenic profile dates is not unambiguous. The fact that the TL dates are older than the OSL dates may mean that during deposition the conditions were not sufficiently conductive to reduce the energy stored earlier in the grains examined with the TL method. This time could have been sufficient to reduce the energy examined with the OSL method.

Stratigraphic Position of Tills in the Orłowo Cliff Section (Northern Poland): A New Approach

Abstract The site at Orłowo Cliff was used to analyse the stratigraphic position and palaeogeographic interpretations of the properties and depositional conditions of two basal tills from the Late Pleistocene. A multi-proxy approach involved lithofacies, petrographic analysis of the fine gravel fraction, analyses of indicator erratics and till fabric. TL dating of intra-moraine deposits was used to determine depositional time frames of tills. The sediment profile at Orłowo Cliff shows a distinct reduction in number of Pleistocene units. Obtained dating results suggest the presence of Middle and Late Pleistocene fluvial units. The main issue discussed is the stratigraphic position of the older till (Unit O-4). It can be assumed that this till was deposited probably during the Middle Weichselian (MIS4). At Orłowo Horn the till of Unit O-4 reveals incorporation of the erratic material derived from an older till in the surrounded area (according to petrographic composition - probably from MIS 8). The younger till (Unit O-6) was deposited in the Late Weichselian (MIS 2). Moreover, the till of Unit O-6 is characterised by a significant shift towards the south-west in terms of the erratic origin in Unit O-4.