Luminescence of Agrellite Specimen from the Kipawa River Locality

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

A spectroscopic investigation of a natural sample of agrellite has been recently published by Kaneva et al. (2020). The paper of Czaja and Lisiecki looks more detailed in the luminescence spectroscopy study of agrellite from Kipawa River locality. However, it needs a major revision which should include a comparison of the agrellite luminescence from different localities.

The authors need to prove the novelty of the their own results. I am sure that comparison of results would be very useful and increase the scientific weight of the paper.

Author Response

#1

A spectroscopic investigation of a natural sample of agrellite has been recently published by Kaneva et al. (2020).

 

The paper of Czaja and Lisiecki looks more detailed in the luminescence spectroscopy study of agrellite from Kipawa River locality.

 

However, it needs a major revision which should include a comparison of the agrellite luminescence from different localities.

 

The authors need to prove the novelty of the their own results. I am sure that comparison of results would be very useful and increase the scientific weight of the paper.

My answers:

Kaneva et al. (2002) has been available online from 17 October 2019, while I send our article – after language correction at 29 October and for 2 weeks I haven’t checked news for this mineral. I announced Kaneva et al (2002) as reference number [2] in introduction (lines 35-37)

 

  Indeed, contrary to Kaneva et al. (2020) our paper is concerned on the luminescence properties of agrellite sample, but that was the purpose of sending our results to the volume devoted to the study of luminescence 

 

  Comparison the luminescent properties of specimens from different localities is certainly very purposeful and interesting; However, without other data of those other specimens discussion cannot be insightful. I would like to be able to possess such specimens; I will continue my actions to buy them, or exchange or cooperate with other researches.

 

  I expanded discussion in chapter 3.2 in lines 144-152, and in Conclusion in lines 244-256 with comparison with Kaneva et al (2020) results. So far, the luminescent spectra of agrellite have been presented on website and in [1,2] but without percent of REE. The most important novelty of the current study is not only a larger number of luminescence centers but also the effect of energy transfer from Ce³⁺ to other RE

Additionally, the numbering of References was changed, now.

All changes - adding text, references are underlined in yellow

Reviewer 2 Report

Several comments:

1.I propose to change the title for "Luminescence of agrellite specimen from Kipava River locality".

2. Reference [1] is Gorobets; Rogojine (line 29)

3. emission spectra of Mn²⁺ were not measured (line 81)

4. Figure 4 presents excitation and photoluminescence spectra. Please explain why 377 nm is better excitation for Er³⁺ than 320 nm?

5.  Deconvolution has to be done when the x-axes is in energy units

(eV, cm^-1) and not in nm.

6. Tarashchan [14] found Gd³⁺ luminescence in sheelite, anhydrite, fluorite and apatite.

Author Response

1.I propose to change the title for "Luminescence of agrellite specimen from Kipava River locality".

My answer:I changed title I was suggested. The earlier one was supposed to suggest the continuation of the study being prepared, especially measurements of luminescence under femtosecond excitation to detect other defects in this crystal.

 

Reference [1] is Gorobets; Rogojine (line 29)

Answer:

Sorry for my mistake, I corrected it.

 

emission spectra of Mn²⁺ were not measured (line 81);

My answer:

of course Mn²⁺, sorry, I still look for crystals with Mn³⁺; corrected

 

Figure 4 presents excitation and photoluminescence spectra. Please explain why 377 nm is better excitation for Er³⁺ than 320 nm?

My explanation:

I synthesized many phosphate and borate glasses containing various individual 4f ions, also Er3 + or two of them. On this basis, I concluded that the convenient excitation line Er3 + is the line at 377 nm. In addition, I do not use excitation at 320 nm for measuring Er3 + emission spectra, because the lamp power in my spectrometer is clearly weaker at this wavelength than at 377 nm. It was presented in “old” [23], now reference number [6]. Than some explanation was put in lines 100-102 and consequently the references numbering has been changed.

 

 

Deconvolution has to be done when the x-axes is in energy units

(eV, cm^-1) and not in nm.

My answer:
I changed the X-axis unit and changed Fig. 8 and data from it was put in text in 135 line.

 

Tarashchan [14] found Gd³⁺ luminescence in sheelite, anhydrite, fluorite and apatite.

My answer:

I added this information in 162-163 lines. Thanks.

 

Additionally, the numbering of References was changed, now.

All changes - adding text, references are underlined in yellow

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The revised version could now be accepted.