Assessing the potential for cryptotephra studies in Northeastern China

Quaternary tephrochronology and tephrostratigraphy are employed globally for chronological control and site correlation, but the potential for these approaches in Northeastern China has not been fully explored, in spite of this being a volcanically active region. Microscopic and precise electron microprobe geochemical analyses were performed on crypto- or macrotephra layers in maar lake sediments from Sihailongwan, and peat from Gushantun, from the Longgang volcanic field in NE China. Tentative links have been made to volcanism in the Longgang and Changbaishan volcanic fields. From published radiocarbon dating data for Sihailongwan and new AMS dating for the Gushantun tephra layer, crypto-tephrostratigraphy and tephrochronology for the Longgang region have been constructed, and their limitations are assessed.