Insights into Regional Metallogeny from Detailed Compositional Studies of Alluvial Gold: An Example from the Loch Tay Area, Central Scotland
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Dear Sir,
Review of the manuscript Insights into regional metallogeny from detailed compositional studies of alluvial gold: An example from the Loch Tay area, central Scotland by Robert Chapman, Taija Torvela and Lucia Savastano
Line 73: delete the space after reference #18.
Figure 1 B: usually, the faults are in black and the veins in red. The use of red for faults and black for veins in the legend and blue on the map is misleading. I suggest to change, red for veins and black for faults.
Line 152: the reference Chew and Strachan, 2014 should be replaced by 35, after 34.
Line 162: replace „ . ” by „ [ ”
Line 260: full stop missing „[5,7] Cumulative”
Line 266: define the abbreviation LOD
Line 330: correct „ , But”
Line 341: delete one full stop
Lines 342-343 and 344-345: they are the same 343; then correct „wt %),” and check „populations form the study”
Line 355: Figure 4B should be replaced by Figure 3B
Define KSM, apparently Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell
Figure 6/line 381: you should add somewhere „wt%” for all 3 compositions
Figure 7/line 385: in the key color for Ochil Hills Type 1 is full line, while in the diagram is dashed line. They should be the same.
Line 406: check the unaccepted change
Line 564: replace „form” by „from”
Line 765: delete one comma after Spence-Jones, C.P.,,
It would be of interest to check if there is any cloud corresponding to Group 1 and Group 2 on Au-Ag binary diagram or to notice that this diagram is not appropriate for such distinction.
In the reference list there are several publications from Economic Geology; some of them are cited as Econ. Geol., other as Economic Geology. They should be cited similarly. The same apply to the pages, e.g. Econ. Geol. 111:1321–1345 at line 658; Econ. Geol. 117, 361-381. at line 660. Generally, an overview of the reference style is needed, e.g. several full stop missing etc.
Author Response
Responses to the comments of Reviewer 1
Review of the manuscript Insights into regional metallogeny from detailed compositional studies of alluvial gold: An example from the Loch Tay area, central Scotland by Robert Chapman, Taija Torvela and Lucia Savastano
All the following comments have been addressed:
Line 73: delete the space after reference #18.
Figure 1 B: usually, the faults are in black and the veins in red. The use of red for faults and black for veins in the legend and blue on the map is misleading. I suggest to change, red for veins and black for faults.
Line 152: the reference Chew and Strachan, 2014 should be replaced by 35, after 34.
Line 162: replace „ . ” by „ [ ”
Line 260: full stop missing „[5,7] Cumulative”
Line 266: define the abbreviation LOD
Line 330: correct „ , But”
Line 341: delete one full stop
Lines 342-343 and 344-345: they are the same 343; then correct „wt %),” and check „populations form the study”
Line 355: Figure 4B should be replaced by Figure 3B
Define KSM, apparently Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell
Figure 6/line 381: you should add somewhere „wt%” for all 3 compositions
Figure 7/line 385: in the key color for Ochil Hills Type 1 is full line, while in the diagram is dashed line. They should be the same.
Line 406: check the unaccepted change
Line 564: replace „form” by „from”
Line 765: delete one comma after Spence-Jones, C.P.,,
It would be of interest to check if there is any cloud corresponding to Group 1 and Group 2 on Au-Ag binary diagram or to notice that this diagram is not appropriate for such distinction.
We have addressed this issue in the discussion on features of Group 2 2 noting that the overwhelming majority of gold particle analyses returned values < LOQ
In the reference list there are several publications from Economic Geology; some of them are cited as Econ. Geol., other as Economic Geology. They should be cited similarly. The same apply to the pages, e.g. Econ. Geol. 111:1321–1345 at line 658; Econ. Geol. 117, 361-381. at line 660. Generally, an overview of the reference style is needed, e.g. several full stop missing etc.
We have addressed this issue in the resubmission.
Reviewer 2 Report
All the comments are indicated in a separate file atacched. Please check it.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Specifics: Abstract: It is so generalized. The authors should briefly resume the analytical results of this study with important quantitative elemental data. Based on the results, the author could mention general aspects on the placer gold deposits.
We have rewritten the abstract to provide more specific information as requested
Lines 134, 140, 162: The parentheses are not closed. Addressed
Line 248: Jeol → JEOL. Addressed
Lines 318-326: Most readers would like to first know Au-Ag compositions of placer gold grains. Thus its composition should be stated first, according to the Figure order (Fig. 3 and Fig. 4). It is better to state the relation Ag-Hg later.
We agree- there was an error in the ms as submitted. We have re written parts of both Results and Discussion sections so that Ag is dealt with first.
Line 330: But → but. Fig. 7: This figure is very poor, and no self-explanatory. It is not clarified what means the vertical axis. Thus, it is recommended for the authors to summarize all the data as a Table.
We acknowledge the omission of the X axis label- and that the methodology by which the figure was generated was contained solely within references. We have expanded the text to explain methodology and included an axis label. We do believe that graphical depiction of inclusion assemblages is a superior method to depict commonality/differences between inclusion suites than a table so we have retained the figure, supported by modification of the text as explained above.
Line 435: burn → Burn. Addressed
Line 538: signtures → signatures. Addressed
Lines 538-548: The word “signatures” is used six times in this paragraph. It is not recommended, and should be changed into another word or expression.
We agree, thank you for the comment.
Line 542: above → earlier Addressed
