Chronology of coastal dune ridges in Vaigai prodelta region, southeastern Tamil Nadu, India

The Tamil Nadu coastline, India, has extensive dunes which can be used for inferring quaternary palaeoclimates. In the present study, we aim to determine the chronology of the dunes in the Vaigai prodelta region along the southeastern coastline of the country. Optically stimulated luminescence ages for the elevated beach ridge samples SANK-5, SANK-4, SANK-3, SANK-2 and SANK-1 were estimated to be 0.9 +/- 0.1, 1.1 +/- 0.1, 1.8 +/- 0.2, 5.3 +/- 0.4 and 27 +/- 2.3 ka respectively, from top to bottom of the section. The first four phases of aeolian activation occurred in marine oxygen isotope stage-1, whereas the similar to 27 ka age suggests that sediment deposition occurred in marine oxygen isotope stage-3. The luminescence ages were in stratigraphic order, and represent the first dates of aeolian activation in the Vaigai region.