Sampling Confined Fission Tracks for Constraining Geological Thermal Histories

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Comments are in the attached file.

Comments for author File: Comments.doc

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor editing of English language required.

Author Response

Please see attachment "Minerals 3217719 replies.pdf"

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This paper formulated an etch model for apatite and provided a new way to unravel the links between etching and sampling, which also can be used to improve the confined-track sample and the related thermal history. This study mainly focused on the experimental tests and enhancement of fission-track analysis, it belongs to the theoretical research. It is unfortunately that I focused on the application of the fission-track dating techniques. So, I have no more suggestions and comments to help improve this paper. But, I have some questions: 1) how to identify and search the confined-track samples in field work? 2) what is the different for the thermal history using Dpar and Cl concentrations when modeled? 3) what is the most important thermodynamic parameter for thermal history modeling?

Comments on the Quality of English Language

This paper formulated an etch model for apatite and provided a new way to unravel the links between etching and sampling, which also can be used to improve the confined-track sample and the related thermal history. This study mainly focused on the experimental tests and enhancement of fission-track analysis, it belongs to the theoretical research. It is unfortunately that I focused on the application of the fission-track dating techniques. So, I have no more suggestions and comments to help improve this paper. But, I have some questions: 1) how to identify and search the confined-track samples in field work? 2) what is the different for the thermal history using Dpar and Cl concentrations when modeled? 3) what is the most important thermodynamic parameter for thermal history modeling?

Author Response

Please see attachment "Minerals 3217719 replies.pdf"

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

See the attached file below

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see attachment "Minerals 3217719 replies.pdf".

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf