Abstract:

Luminescence dating is a widely used method for Quaternary sediments. The portable optically stimulated luminescence reader， developed based on this principle， enables in-situ measurements of natural luminescence signals from samples in the field， facilitating stratigraphy and chronological analyses. Understanding factors affecting measurements is key for evaluating the reliability of testing and enhancing operational efficiency. In this study， we conducted a series of experiments to evaluate potential influencing factors using well-bleached and homogeneous aeolian sediments. The results indicate that portable luminescence signals are dominated by different minerals across regions， with feldspar being the primary contributor in aeolian sediments from northern China. The portable luminescence signal is influenced by grain size， which could be associated with differences in mineral composition. The measurements are influenced by the effective area of the sample but remain unaffected by sample mass， thickness， or placement orientation. The experiments show high reproducibility， obviating the necessity for repeated measurements. The influence of sample water content in arid regions is neglected； Brief exposure to indirect sunlight has little effect on portable signals， allowing for field sampling and testing under similar lighting conditions. Hence， portable luminescence measurements generally require no special sample preparation， particularly for aeolian deposits with homogeneous grain size and mineralogical composition， for which luminescence signal variations show a closer correlation with sedimentary age.

Key words: luminescence dating, portable OSL reader, aeolian sediments in northern China, equivalent dose