Neoproterozoic Aksu Diabase Dyke, Chinese South Tianshan: Magma Sources and Implications for Regional Gold Metallogeny
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This manuscript presents new data on the Neoproterozoic Aksu dykes in the northern Tarim craton with regard of their possible significance for understanding the composition of lithospheric mantle and its gold endowment. This topic is suitable for Minerals and could be interesting for international readership. The paper is relatively well structured and the data presented are mostly convincing. However the paper cannot be accepted in its present shape and should be seriously corrected in terms of language and other shortcomings. My comments are listed below and I suggest Moderate revision before the ms can be considered for publication.
Line 51-52
“Ambiguities mantle sources of lode gold deposits have also been proposed for..”
Wrong grammar – please rewrite
Line 57-58
“The Neoproterozoic Aksu diabase dykes shared the same secondary extensional structures of the trans-lithospheric fault with lode gold deposits in the Chinese South Tianshan”
Please explain which lode gold deposits and of which age?
Line 57-68
The authors may consider mentioning here that Neoproterozoic Au deposits of similar age do exist in adjacent areas of Tien Shan and one of them was recently described in http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2017.03.007
Line 61
Please give information here about age of the Aawanda lode gold deposit
Line 65
Please replace “in-situ trace elements of pyrite grains” with “in-situ trace elements analysis of pyrite grains”
Fig 1c
Please also name terrain to the north of South Tien Shan
Line 85
“The Precambrian terranes comprises mainly of the Paleoproterozoic Xinditagh Group..”
Bad phrasing – replace with “The Precambrian terranes are composed mainly of the Paleoproterozoic Xinditagh Group..”
Line 95
“Permian fluvial deposits and rift-type volcanic rocks are uncomfortably overlain the Upper Paleozoic strata”
Wrong grammar – rewrite
Line97-97
“Neoproterozoic mafic intrusions and voluminous Early Permian A-type granites and basalts are widely exposed in the Chinese South Tianshan”
Wrong statement – “Neoproterozoic mafic intrusions are NOT widely exposed in the Chinese South Tianshan”
Line 112-114
Bad grammar – rewrite
Line 122-123
Bad grammar – rewrite
Line 126
“primitive continental arc basalt” – there is no such thing in geochemistry..
Line 127
What is “radiogenic 87Sr/86Sr(i) .. and radiogenic 143Nd/144Nd”?? – are there non-radiogenic 143Nd/144Nd??
Line 236
6. Conclusions – mistake – should be 6. Discussion – please correct
Line 238-240
Bad grammar – rewrite
Line 298
Replace “Meanwhile, the magma reaches..” with “Meanwhile, when the magma reaches..”
Fig 8 Caption
“Figure 8. (a) Diagram showing variations in Cu/[39]Pd ratios”
What is [39]Pd??
Line 319-321
Bad grammar – rewrite
Line 321
“whether the the parental magmas” - correct!
Line 323
Replace “partition” with “partitioned”
Line 326
Replace “indicating that no segregation magmatic sulfides during their melt evolution” with “indicating that no segregation magmatic sulfides during their melt evolution took place”
Line 320-342
This text is very badly phrased and should be seriously corrected with the help of native English speaking person.
Line 360
Dykeswould – correct!
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Dear author,
I would like first thank you for considering 'Mineral'. Your paper feels suitable for publication in this journal. But please consider the remarks cited in the enclosed draft. I hope you will find them constructive and helpful
Best regards,
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
Dear Editor
Regarding the review of the paper entitled Neoproterozoic Aksu diabase dykes, Chinese South Tianshan: magma sources and implications for regional gold metallogeny
In general, this good paper adds much to knowledge about the mantle source of the diabase dykes in Chinese South Tianshan. It presents new Geochemical and PGEs data and in-situ trace elements of pyrite grains in these diabase dykes. It discussed the metasomatized SCLM as a possible source for these dykes and its potential link to gold deposits in Chinese Tianshan.
However, in the discussion part, the author should split the 6.1 to two parts.
The first subtitled metasomatized SCLM source, and the second one as mantle source evolution
In addition to some comments and corrections on the attached (Rev Mineral- 2226924), some comments can be summarized as follow:
In addition to some comments and corrections on the (Rev Mineral- 2226924), some comments can be summarized as follow:
- Line 16 delete with
- L 44 components
- L 27 and
- L 26 of
- L 109 delete basement
- L 110 delete Our studied area,
- L 142 intrude not intrudes.
- L 236 discussion, not conclusion
- L 266 Please add the suggested references
- L237 please change the title.
Please find the attached file for detailed suggested corrections (Rev Mineral- 2226924)
In conclusion, the MS has good scientific merit and could be published in Minerals after “minor revision”, considering the above-mentioned comments.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 4 Report
This is a careful piece of work with excellent elemental analysis and description followed by shrewd deductions based on the study as a whole. It makes good reference to other relevent work to arrive at the conclusions which will be of considerable interest not only to those studying the origin of gold deposits but also those studying subduction and the composition of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle.
The English is good but the following could be improved:
line 56 delete have & put has (because it is singular)
For some reason lines 320-349 have a rash of improvements needed
320 delete that
323 partitioned
326 occurred during
335 abruptly
337 initially as
339 insert as before S-
340 accompanying
349 delete s in duces
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
