Popular Post Gerry in Idaho Posted December 22, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 22, 2021 Pics are of 4 different 1 pound rocks with gold throughout. I guess technically they could be classified as Specimens if you must. Anyway, What's so interesting is, the 4 different rocks of gold were all recovered with 4 different detectors. Another interesting aspect is, the fact that these 4 different nuggets from 4 different detectors were found in 4 different states (AK, OR, ID, NV). Now for the most intriguing bit of information about the 4, all found with VLF detectors. That's part of the reason I still recommend gold nugget hunters to make sure they always have a VLF detector to compliment their big dog super deep power monster PI or ZED. If you are going to travel and detect a variety of terrains and areas of gold you need to have more than 1 tool. Sometimes DEPTH from a big powerful detector is not desired and in fact can be your worst enemy. The average person can only dig so many 2 feet deep hold and just a couple 3 footers and you are exhausted. I've done it myself and witnessed many other do the same. In old minded areas trash is usually abundant and a powerful DEEP detector can be your enemy. So what's one of my secrets to the success I have had finding big gold? DISCRIMINATION Yes that nasty phrase (don't use discrimination) so many people tell you "Dig it all" and I laugh all the way to the bank. So many old mining areas still produce big gold, but the specimens are mixed in with 100 yr old miners trash and a good way to help select the fewer targets I want to pursue. Don't get me wrong in that I don't like my GPX-6000 and GPZ-7000, as I do and have found many nuggets with them. But those tools have different features I use and like in situations that the VLF detectors are not so well designed. Just imagine the day we have get the feel of an ergonomically designed GPX-6000 with GPZ-7000 depth capabilities, the size imaging from a Garrett GTI, colored frequency analyzation of the V3i, discrimination with adjustable iron masking of the Equinox and waterproofing of the Deus II. Now that detector could be the ultimate and probably cost at least $2000 if made by an American company. We won't even try to figure what Minelab would charge? Now I know there are other aspects of finding big gold and so I'm asking those others who have had the rare pleasure of digging such big pieces to chime in and give info. The moral of the story is know your tools and their strong/weak points and take advantage of them. 30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatup Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 nice rocks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry in Idaho Posted December 28, 2021 Author Share Posted December 28, 2021 Beatup, Those few rocks area hundred thousand hours of digging the more lead that you can imagine. On a rare occasion I win a nice prize. I don't think the average person realizes how much non gold they'll dig to find one of those rocks. I don't think the average nugget hunter will take the torture and spend the time of multiple days with nothing to show for other than blisters, busted knuckles and sore feet. But there are a few more still out there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norvic Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 Ah go on Gerry, all you successful gold fellas are the same, you`ve got those secret places where it`s just laying around, just a matter of a few swings each time you want a gold hit.....🤤 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry in Idaho Posted December 28, 2021 Author Share Posted December 28, 2021 Norvic, Oh yea I found them with the GPS coordinates I purchased on eBay. Best $100 I ever spent. Now if I was smart or I didn't care about hunting my old sites again, I'd just do exactly as I mentioned above. I could sell the GPS coordinates for each nugget at $100 a pop or all 4 for $299. You and I both know there's folks who would buy. I could milk those nuggets for a few more grand. Or...maybe I could give the coordinates away for free to anyone who purchases GPX-6000 or GPZ-7000 from me? Now you have me thinking outside the box Norvic. You are a great man today, not sure about tomorrow?🤫 1 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Catcher Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 On 12/22/2021 at 2:39 PM, Gerry in Idaho said: If you are going to travel and detect a variety of terrains and areas of gold you need to have more than 1 tool. Sometimes DEPTH from a big powerful detector is not desired and in fact can be your worst enemy. The average person can only dig so many 2 feet deep hold and just a couple 3 footers and you are exhausted. I've done it myself and witnessed many other do the same. In old minded areas trash is usually abundant and a powerful DEEP detector can be your enemy. So true, Gerry and thanks for explicitly mention this again here. I have state the same several times on this forum. As an example, in many areas of the CA Motherload a good VLF is the only detector that will be productive. If you plan to do metal detecting in one of the (few) areas of the original main Motherload belt where public detecting is still permissible (i.e Merced River Recreation Area, American River-Mineral Bar, North Yuba River-i.e. near Downieville) a VLF is the only detector you will need. In particular, the 7000 will lead to insanity quickly (verified!). It is so nice to dig a 3 foot hole only to discover a 30 foot buried water pipe from an old mining operation, or an old 8 inch chisel or unimaginable amounts of other trash from 10,000's of miners who infested these canyons over many decades. In general, for PI and ZVT you need to go to much more remote BLM locations (i.e. upper Plumas National Forrest), or better private land. GC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 This is a great little thread on the advantages/disadvantages of the varied types of detectors. I too have dug it all, but when I had the opportunity to follow large-scale placer miners around their bedrock workings (they removed 50-60 feet of overburden to get to the bedrock), workings that included uncountable bits of steel track and bucket or blade, it was no place for a detector without discrimination. Moreover, I'd have lost my mind trying to dig all of the audible targets. My little VLF's with their discrimination were outstanding! (A geologist joined me one day that had the Minelab SDC 2300, and he couldn't get out of the excavations fast enough! Hundreds of signals in every direction for him, but no advantage of discrimination.) I have also dug deep holes chasing non-gold signals from my PI's, and I'm hoping one day there will be a way for them to discriminate effectively at depth, but that seems as if it may never be. So, until the deep seeking metal detectors can conquer the seemingly impossible discrimination hurdle efficiently, I'l always pack the one-two punch of a deep seeker (for its strengths), and the light little VLF's with their amazing discrimination. All the best, Lanny 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Catcher Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 43 minutes ago, Lanny said: and I'm hoping one day there will be a way for them to discriminate effectively at depth, but that seems as if it may never be. That would be huge. Especially because I am certain there is a lot more gold in heavy worked areas at reachable digging depth beyond VLF detecting limits. However, the current process of discrimination (based on inductance/conductivity differences) has extreme limitations (works better in mild soil and only with surface targets). Hence, something entirely new would have to be developed to discriminate reasonably well at depth. Perhaps Bruce will figure something out. I think this would be one of the biggest revolutions in metal detector history (i.e. ZVT with iron probability meter that works at depth and that can be used at the operators discretion) and would most certainly spark a new gold rush.😁 GC. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyy Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 5 hours ago, Gerry in Idaho said: Beatup, Those few rocks area hundred thousand hours of digging the more lead that you can imagine. On a rare occasion I win a nice prize. I don't think the average person realizes how much non gold they'll dig to find one of those rocks. I don't think the average nugget hunter will take the torture and spend the time of multiple days with nothing to show for other than blisters, busted knuckles and sore feet. But there are a few more still out there. Gerry, that is some beautiful gold. I couldn't imagine the miles walked and the holes dug to find those babies. Like you, I do not agree with the dig it all attitude. When you are new to detecting, I would say, yes, dig it all … because you are learning the detector and you are establishing your "best" method of detecting the different situations. Thank you for sharing! Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatup Posted December 28, 2021 Share Posted December 28, 2021 yes sir Gerry i now how much time and effort goes into finding pieces like that ,uncounted hours and miles of walking to match . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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