Analytical Methods for "The provenance dynamics of the Harbin loess, northeast China over the past 195 ka: Insights from heavy mineral composition"

This dataset contains four supplementary files that detail the experimental methods used in the paper "The provenance dynamics of the Harbin loess, northeast China over the past 195 ka: Insights from heavy mineral composition." The first file (Text S1) explains the detailed procedures for Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating of the Harbin loess outcrop section, including sample collection and preparation, extraction of quartz and K-feldspar grains, measurement of the equivalent dose, and the calculation method for the total environmental dose rate. The second file (Text S2) describes the Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) dating method applied to the section samples, specifically the quartz Ti-Li center method, covering quartz extraction and purification, equivalent dose measurement using the additive dose method, and the evaluation of the environmental dose rate. The third file (Text S3) outlines the process for optical heavy mineral analysis of the Harbin loess sediments, which includes size separation, elutriation, heavy liquid separation, magnetic separation, and final microscopic identification and counting. The fourth file (Text S4) details the operational procedures for the automated mineral analysis of Harbin loess and Northeast Sandy Land sediments using a TESCAN Integrated Mineral Analyzer (TIMA), explaining its working principles, sample preparation, analysis mode selection, and data processing steps.