Quick

Going to say that is slag left over from smelting probably copper.

Air tests?? Is that where the invisible nuggets are found??

I agree to a point... Is there a true deep seeking gold detector platform that is light weight? One that will detect as deep as the GPZ or the GPX series. It will be interesting to see how the Axiom does with larger coils.

Good report thanks for posting..

Interesting reading this three year old thread. Nothing has changed the consensus is still leaning towards a ergonomic, light weight, cheaper discriminating detector.

Way to make it happen!

It is interesting to speculate about the next detector and hope for the improvements that would make it not only easier on ones body, but also gain more of the gold that is in the ground, on the first sweep of the coil. I started with a Gold Bug in 1988 and the only really large gold getting improvement I have seen in all those years was when Minelab introduced pluse induction into the game. I also think the 45k,5k with the NF Evo coil line was a big enough improvement to warrant a upgrade. I didn’t buy every new model Minelab came out with but I have had 6 of them. I went from a Green Box SD2200 to a GP3500 and I really liked getting rid of the constant SD threshold wobble, but I didn’t find that the 35k gave me more depth on bigger gold. My old patches were cleaned out of the bigger nuggets by the 22k, not until the 5k with the Nugget Finder Evo coils did I pull any more multi ounce deep gold off of my old patches, these were few and far between compared to the SD2100,2200 days. I now use mainly a GPX 5k and have given little thought to buying a newer model. I know my machine very well and continue to find gold with it. As for the invisible nuggets, I have a VLF detector that finds those, and after days of using the 5k it is nice to use the light weight VLF for awhile. If I could change anything about the GPX it would a bit cosmetic and a bit internal. Such as wireless, a lighter weight platform and a external speaker. Minelab could work on getting rid of the loud screeming start up signal, the EMI wobble when the detector coil is scanning a side hill and a discriminator that cancels out small iron nails and bits of tin. I believe discrimination may be possible on small iron due to the detectors ability to cancel out iron rich hot rocks. In the fine gold timings I have dug nuggets past rotten small nails that the detector sees as hot ground. So is it possible to have a timing built for patch hunting that cancels out small iron? I have no problem forking over some dough if I don’t ever have to dig another boot tac, small nail or piece of wire!! I like the ability to adjust the detector to my liking for the conditions at that moment. So having that ability is a plus for me with the GPX platform. So I believe there are improvements to be made but not like we experienced when the PI technology first became available. Like others have stated get to know you detector and due your research, it is a big part of being successful at nugget hunting.

Was working with Steve to get a custom long upper shaft built. Found out his shafts are not compatible with Minelab’s lowers. I own way too many ML lowers to change over, so the deal fell though. I hear good things about him and his products.

I love this picture!! Team work..The guy on the backhoe must of took the picture..

At this point any Nugget Finder coils in the hands of the dealers in the U.S. will be helpful. A lot of sells are going to other manufacturers due to NF being out of stock. I’m still holding out for a couple of the bigger Evo coils due to the improvement I have experienced with that line.

Coil bump sensitivity has always been a issue with the Whites gold master series of detectors I have owned. Was hoping this was fixed by Garrett with the 24k. I think it is the coils that are the issue, they seem fine when new but, get very bump sensitive with use. Anyone know if the new 24k coils work on the older GMT,Gold Master series of detectors?

In all the years I have spent detecting I have always looked for what Mother Nature hides and was never interesting in looking for something hidden by man.

How genius of Minelab..Why just market a product when you can remarket a product....

One reason I don’t video my buddies when they find a color. They tend to run around yelling about buying whiskey and hookers.

Good to see that another manufacturer may finally be getting something on the market that will attempt to compete with Minelab. A gold machine that is lite weight, works with after market coils and can compete with the higher end Minelabs is needed in this industry.