a-multimethod-dating-study-of-ancient-permafrost-batagay-megaslump-east-siberia.pdf (1.62 MB)
A multimethod dating study of ancient permafrost, Batagay megaslump, east Siberia
Version 2 2023-06-12, 09:47
Version 1 2023-06-09, 23:35
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 09:47 authored by Julian MurtonJulian Murton, Thomas Opel, Phillip Toms, Alexander Blinov, Margret Fuchs, Jamie Wood, Andreas Gärtner, Silke Merchel, Georg Rugel, Grigoriy Savvinov, Sebastian WetterichDating of ancient permafrost is essential for understanding long-term permafrost stability and interpreting palaeoenvironmental conditions but presents substantial challenges to geochronology. Here, we apply four methods to permafrost from the megaslump at Batagay, east Siberia: (1) optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of quartz, (2) post-infrared infrared-stimulated luminescence (pIRIR) dating of K-feldspar, (3) radiocarbon dating of organic material, and (4) 36Cl/Cl dating of ice wedges. All four chronometers produce stratigraphically consistent and comparable ages. However, OSL appears to date Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 to MIS 2 deposits more reliably than pIRIR, whereas the latter is more consistent with 36Cl/Cl ages for older deposits. The lower ice complex developed at least 650 ka, potentially during MIS 16, and represents the oldest dated permafrost in western Beringia and the second-oldest known ice in the Northern Hemisphere. It has survived multiple interglaciations, including the super-interglaciation MIS 11c, though a thaw unconformity and erosional surface indicate at least one episode of permafrost thaw and erosion occurred sometime between MIS 16 and 6. The upper ice complex formed from at least 60 to 30 ka during late MIS 4 to 3. The sand unit above the upper ice complex is dated to MIS 3–2, whereas the sand unit below formed at some time between MIS 4 and 16.
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- Published
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- Published version
Journal
Quaternary ResearchISSN
0033-5894Publisher
Cambridge University PressExternal DOI
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1-22Department affiliated with
- Geography Publications
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- Yes
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- Yes
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2021-04-13First Open Access (FOA) Date
2021-06-16First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2021-04-13Usage metrics
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