Late Pleistocene tephra layers distributed on Tane Island, southwest Japan

Abstract

The stratigraphy, distribution and petrographical characteristics of four tephra layers of Late Pleistocene age on Tane island are described in this paper. These are named Tane I, II, III, and IV in ascending order, and are interbedded between Kikai-Tozurahara tephar K-Tz: 95 ka) and Aira-Tn tephra (AT: 25 ka). Judging from the stratigraphy of these tephras, their ages are estimated to be 65 ka for Tane I and Tane II, 45 ka for Tane III, and 35 ka for Tane IV. The vents of these tephras have not yet been identified; however, Tane II is most likely correlated with the Karayama Scoria, which is mainly distributed in the southern most part of Kyushu. -from English summary