Discovery of “Meteoritic” Layered Disulphides ACrS2 (A = Na, Cu, Ag) in Terrestrial Rock
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The paper “Discovery of “Meteoritic” Layered Disulphides ACrS2 (A = Na, 2 Cr, Ag) in Terrestrial Rock” by Galuskin et al. represents and interesting contribution which can be accepted to the Minerals after minor revision.
The paper presents a description of interesting mineralogical association containing chromium disulphides, which were found in Hatrurim Complex in the Negev Desert, Israel. The paper is only a description, but also presents important genetic implications and conditions for appearance of these chromium disulphides.
I have only a few minor comments, which should be addressed:
39, 162 …refered as mineral X…It would rather used the term „phase X“, and used the term „mineral“ only for phases approved as mineral by IMA
152 Py…pyrite
168…“could lead to sodium and water loss in the course of an experiment.“
Did you observe some lower sums in EMPA analysis which can indicate above mentioned process? Please, comment this.
178… Grokhovskyite has unbalanced charge (4.31/4-)…Could you add more details what might be the reason for this unbalanced charge? Not precise analysis, mixture of more mineral phases?
Mineral X” is a potentially new mineral…do you plan to prepare a proposal for a new mineral species?
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
This manuscript is very well written and presents results describing an interesting terrestrial occurrence of several minerals, including two possibly new ones, that otherwise have only occurred in meteorites. I have noted some minor spelling and grammar issues in the attached document, along with some questions for the authors that I also present below. Except for minor revisions I am pleased to recommend the paper for publication in Minerals.
1. The geological context for the minerals to form are well presented; nevertheless, I wonder if the authors might address (speculate?) on the possibility that these phases actually might have originated from a meteorite? No isotope studies are discussed.
2. In many presentations of the empirical formulae, charge does not balance. I would like the authors to address this further.
3. In the Raman study, the "thermal laser effect" is noted. I would like the authors to describe the experimental conditions for this more explicitly. Is it simply laser-induced heating in air?
4. It would be helpful if the authors noted the polarization direction of the laser relative to the figures where polarization Raman results are presented.
5. In lines 340 to 341 it is stated rather briefly that the Raman investigation confirms the phase identity with synthetic analogs. The Ag - bearing phase is included but I saw no comparison to synthetic Ag-bearing phase.
6. Please provide references for the structural information presented near lines 421-422.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
