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A Tool To Use When Working In Iron Infested Sites


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Some of the new metal detectors claim to work wonders in iron infested sites. There is one site that I wish to go back to and try and see if those claims are valid. I don't have any high hopes though at this particular site because of the amount of iron on the surface and below. This site was at the end of the railroad track for a period of about six months while the construction of new track was being laid. During those six months the site was a temporary camp and staging area for the railroad, stage and freighting companies to a booming mining town thirty miles away. According to history accounts this site had a "floating population" of several thousand. One can imagine the amount of chaos that went on and amount of coins and relics that were lost. As you will see in the photographs there is not much revealing as to where the site is. At first look other than the old railroad grade, there are no visible signs as to where was. As you begin to wander around the site you become amazed of the amount of iron, wire, tin cans etc. that covers the entire ground. The amount of oyster cans lying on top of the ground is incredible. Many years ago at this site we used a "roofers magnet" and had some success finding coins and relics. In one small area of 10ft x 10ft we raked and used the roofers magnet before searching the area with a detector. Even after using a rake and roofers magnet there was some iron targets remaining below the surface. The outcome of all that work we were rewarded with a 1853 Half Dime.

The site:

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Using the roofers magnet:

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Our reward:

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That was a very hard hunt, but ended with a very nice find.

Congratulations on your find and keep up the good work.

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One thing I would try, is get a PI, like the TDI and only look for lost gold items.  I found the largest gold ring to date using my TDI in an iron, coal slack site.  It might be worth a try.  Set the TDI to low conductors, this will silence most of the iron, you may be surprised at what might come up. I will add, I had to increase the time delay to 17 but was shocked when I saw the gold.  And that was at a site that had been hammered, for over a decade by the very best VLF machines in the world.

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I have a magnetic rake I got of ebay. Works really well and disturbs the soil just enough to suck up the iron in the top inch or so. It can also be turned over with the smooth side down to just get the surface trash. 

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Hi  tied once on the Thames but too much work....you will need to sleep on the spot to make sure none comes to detect after you iron cleaning.

 

But the tides doesn't help😁😁😁

 

The last rake is looking good!!

 

RR

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