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Found a run in laterite yesterday, basically just laterite with the odd bit of quartz here and there. Picked up 1/2 oz of sub gr pieces and as it was late in the day and my ute was 6 klms away I marked and left in the ground 30+ signals. Returned this morning and picked up 40+grams of subs to 2.5grs. It was all reefy gold that hadn't travelled so I tried tracing it up the hill, marking another 50 or so signals to dig out later. All of a sudden WHAM!!!! The back of my ute now has 40+kg of rock absolutely riddled with gold and the signal is still going along and down. This spot will keep me amused for weeks as the initial run is about 30 metres wide and about 100 metres long and who know how big it will expand to. Not sure what I have yet and too afraid to estimate but it's multi ounces, just how many is the question. Half the bit I picked up were sunbakers too, sitting there winking at me. 40+grs from today 40+kg of rock / reef/ ore/ something Crappy pic of random chunk of what it's all like

sorry don't know how to put all the pic's on the 1 post, please bear with me.

The one above 81 grammer, the one below 82 grammer.

Though unrelated to the monster finds,but related to Dales week off with his new girl are his finds for 4 part days with his 7k. Hope you all enjoy. 233grams after the lid was on tare.

I'd much rather detect at the beach or the Beautiful high Sierras but sometimes it pays off the hunt near home. For the last few months they have been tearing out the Main Street near where I live so I finally decided to check it out. There is a train Depot there. Fun and something to do. Got a 1870 Spanish coin and other goodies... I enclosed a pic of what the coin would have looked like in its prime.

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To reiterate this note from the first post: Important Notes: 1) Both the GPZ control box under the detector armrest AND the GPZ control pod user interface on top of the handle must be connected together and updated as a pair at the same time. Therefore, if sending your detector to a dealer or service centre, to carry out this update, do not send the control box alone. 2) This update is currently NOT COMPATIBLE with XChange 2 and therefore will make XChange 2 inoperable with the GPZ 7000 detector. Transfer and save Geotrails or Findpoints from your GPZ to XChange 2 before doing the upgrade. A new compatible version of XChange 2 will be available within the next few months, at which time full compatibility will be restored. Any data you have stored on XChange 2 will not be lost when you carry out the GPZ update and when this new version of XChange 2 becomes available. 3) When installing this upgrade, the detector will need to have the universal settings re-selected (e.g. language, weight) and the wireless module re-connected. I have personally used this update and it works very well indeed. Unfortunately, I need my built in GPS and XChange 2 compatibility more than I need this update so I rolled back to the prior version (yes, you can do that - prior versions here). I want this update but will be holding off until XChange 2 compatibility is restored. Firmware Installation Guide

Update: Well, I emailed the Treasure Coast Archaeological Society (metal detecting club in Sebastian). I figured if anyone knew about it, they would. They emailed me back and said water detecting around Melbourne was fine. So I'll just leave this here for ya'lll. You know....just in case. Thanks for all the input!

GPZ 7000 Software Update 2 Get increased performance from your GPZ detector! Minelab is pleased to announce the second software update to our GPZ 7000 detector. This FREE update incorporates a new Ground Smoothing function, a Semi-Auto ground balance setting and Chinese/Mongolian language options. This update is currently NOT COMPATIBLE with XChange 2 - see notes below. Ground Smoothing This function implements selectable noise filters that help deal with difficult ground, especially conductive soils. The new Ground Smoothing options provide several advantages: Reduces noise effects of salty soils Allows detecting in previously ‘off-limits’ locations Achieves maximum depth with both coils Maximises your ground coverage efficiency “With the Locate Patch setting, it is now possible to use Normal Ground Type in very ‘hot’ laterite soil… this is exciting!” Field Tester 1 – Kalgoorlie, WA Semi-Auto This update adds a Semi-Auto option to the Ground Balance Mode. Semi‑Auto gives you these great benefits: Additional control and flexibility for expert users Improved ground balance stability Another option to deal with tricky detecting conditions A specialist tool for expert prospectors “In Semi-Auto mode the GPZ is noticeably quieter over the ground in all modes but especially in Normal Ground Type modes.” Field Tester 3 – Clermont, QLD For further details refer to the brochure here You can download the software here Read the Treasure Talk blog about Ground Smoothing here Firmware Installation Guide Important Notes: 1) Both the GPZ control box under the detector armrest AND the GPZ control pod user interface on top of the handle must be connected together and updated as a pair at the same time. Therefore, if sending your detector to a dealer or service centre, to carry out this update, do not send the control box alone. 2) This update is currently NOT COMPATIBLE with XChange 2 and therefore will make XChange 2 inoperable with the GPZ 7000 detector. Transfer and save Geotrails or Findpoints from your GPZ to XChange 2 before doing the upgrade. A new compatible version of XChange 2 will be available within the next few months, at which time full compatibility will be restored. Any data you have stored on XChange 2 will not be lost when you carry out the GPZ update and when this new version of XChange 2 becomes available. 3) When installing this upgrade, the detector will need to have the universal settings re-selected (e.g. language, weight) and the wireless module re-connected. Basics - click for larger views:

I had about 30 min to kill between calls on Friday so I decided to hit a park close to the next appointment. This park I had written off about a year ago as a target poor environment. It's very small and isolated. So I'm detecting along and see a couple trees in the back that I did not get to last time I was here. I got the Coiltek small elliptical coil on the CTX. As I get near the trees I pick up a couple pennies. Next I get an iffy target but it's reading off and on in the quarter range on the CTX. There is another penny a couple inches away I can tell. So I dig about 5 inches down and out plops this 1925 Peace Dollar!.... WTF? Gotta be a fluke I'm thinking...some kid stole his grand parents stash and lost it in the park. I'm tickled pink but I would have rather found in all the old home sites I've walked hundreds of miles searching lol. While detecting I noticed that I was hearing lots of deep iffy targets and I had pulled out a couple of old twisted metal objects which indicated Old Dirt. I got home around 5pm and got on the computer and went to Google earth. Clicked Historical imaging and saw that the area was an old homesite. The park has been untouched all these years. Looking at the old historical imagery it almost appears that there was an old baseball field due to the triangular shape. So I told Lisa I'll see you in a couple hours lol. Not many targets so I dig everything that hits good and not long into the hunt I pull out this intact pocket watch. I don't know what I like better the watch of the peace dollar. Most of the watches I get are in pieces so this one is the first one thats totally intact and in fairly decent shape. Hit the spot again today and got some old spoons etc....but no more old coins. HH out there! And the ring is fake btw... strick

Yeah, Northern Nevada got thoroughly soaked last winter, and most of the low ground and gullies ground are still moaning and groaning. You will see a dramatic improvement on this type of ground using the Salt Mode, but do always remember it is a filter and so the Salt Mode should only be employed where absolutely needed. Still, a lot of people are really going to like this. I will be interested in hearing what people think.

Lots of weird sounds coming from this place deep targets Etc for some reason the CTX started to hit real good right before dark the other day I don't know if it has to do with Emi or what but it's a potpourri of stuff for sure.

Ok, I downloaded the update to my Mac desk top. I plugged in the usb cable from the computer to the 7000. I powered up the 7000 and waited until I saw the 7000 hard disk icon on the computer desk top. Then I double clicked the 7000 hard drive icon and dragged the update onto the open hard drive. After it updated (a short time), I dragged the 7000 hard drive icon to the trash (this ejects it). Then I disconnected the usb cable and followed the prompts on the screen of the 7000. It worked perfectly.

From the update Full Color Brochure - click on images for larger versions

GPZ 7000 Ground Smoothing Options (Software Update 2) July 03, 2017 03:34pm Minelab Electronics The GPZ 7000 has set a new benchmark for sensitivity over a very broad range of gold nuggets. However, a by-product of its exceptional sensitivity to gold nuggets is increased susceptibility to soil anomalies and unwanted interactions with the ground matrix. One such unwanted interaction is with the conductive (salt) elements of the ground. Some soils have high amounts of alkali metal salts which make the soil conductive. Salt flats are extreme examples of this. Also, many otherwise benign soils can become conductive after a period of rain. As detectors become more sensitive to conductive targets of interest (i.e. gold), they also respond more aggressively to conductive soil. As a detectorist, you can identify conductive soil if you know what to look and listen for. The first thing you’ll notice is that the detector will make long audible ‘groans’ as the coil is swept from side-to-side over the soil. These signals won’t be localised – they’ll be coming from large regions of low conductivity, and they’ll be deep, too. Even if you lift the coil in the air, far from the soil, at least two or three feet above the ground, you’ll still be able to hear these long audible ‘groans’. When you encounter conductive soil, usually you’ll have to slow your sweep to tame the audible noises. With the new GPZ software upgrade we’ve provided some extra settings to help deal with problematic soils, especially conductive soil. This enables you to take the GPZ 7000 to places which were previous “off-limits” and to reduce the impact of these soils. This second GPZ 7000 upgrade implements a new Ground Smoothing function in the Detect Plus menu. This function has three settings: Off, Locate Patch and Salty Soil. Off (Default) The Off position is the original GPZ 7000 configuration you have already been using This setting is optimal for seeking targets which tend to be found deep (e.g. greater than 600mm). The trade-off with Off is that it tends to be the most sensitive to soil anomalies, so you’ll achieve the best performance if you slow your coil swing speed to deal with the unwanted ground noises. Locate Patch The Locate Patch setting is a great all-rounder. This setting enables you to cover more ground faster. It smooths out unwanted ground noises, allowing you to keep a productive swing speed. With less ground noise it can also be easier to hear the fainter signals. Mild alkali soils can still be detected in this setting.. The trade-off with Locate Patch is a slight sensitivity penalty (a few percent) for the deepest targets. However, for most targets you’ll find this setting strikes a balance between absolute detection depth and productivity. Salty Soil The Salty Soil setting is a specialty setting designed to allow the GPZ 7000 to operate in extreme alkali environments that would otherwise be impossible. It is important that this setting is used only when the soil requires it, as it can have a substantial impact on detection depth. Salty Soil removes the slow audible ‘groans’ from conductive soils and retains the faster responses from gold nuggets. As a result, Salty Soil will have a bit more ‘chatter’ than the Off and Locate Patch settings; and the slow broad signals from very deep targets will be more difficult to hear. The Ground Smoothing settings can also be changed to suit the size of coil you are using – GPZ 14 or GPZ 19: GPZ 14 The GPZ 14 has been designed for optimum overall sensitivity to a large range of gold nugget sizes. It’s great for deep buried large nuggets as well as shallower small nuggets. How you match the GPZ 14 with the Ground Smoothing settings depends upon how you use the GPZ 7000. If you’re after increased productivity, more ground coverage and a smoother detecting experience, the Locate Patch setting could best suit your needs. If you’re wanting to find ‘that one monster nugget’ at depth, the Off setting gives you the best chance! GPZ 19 The GPZ 19 offers a substantial boost in sensitivity to deep targets. The larger geometry also means that it’s more sensitive to conductive soil. The new Ground Smoothing function can used to help reduce the effect of conductive soils on the GPZ 19. However, it is important to remember that the GPZ 19 is all about depth. So, where possible, the GPZ 19 should matched with the Off setting for the greatest detection depth. However, you may find that Locate Patch gives a smoother detecting experience. So, in summary, you now have a wider choice of coil size and ground noise filtering options to fine-tune detector performance for various conditions – from using the GPZ 14 and Salty Soil for conductive soils, through to the GPZ 19 and Ground Smoothing Off for less reactive ground and greatest depth. This software upgrade, which also includes a Semi-Auto setting and additional language support, is available here (11.3 MB download) Further information and instructions on how to install it are available here Read more about the GPZ 7000 and coping with difficult ground here Firmware Installation Guide

Train tokens, etc., etc.. Bet there's some merchant rounds to be found.. Wouldn't doubt smaller denomination gold coinage either.. Follow track side / bed / whatever's left a ways too.. Old camps now overgrown just out-of-town.. Swamp

Mitchel, while I'm assuming your question is rhetorical, I can think of a lot of places the new upgrade will come in handy, chief among them being the damp alkali soils of the Rye Patch region. I'll be testing the new functionality of the Zed tomorrow in some hot spots.

Way to go... and yup... I'd be there till there was no more there to hunt.

,,,And a 1 under the 2 on that Merc! Very nice effect the way you framed up that coin for the photo, Strick. I'd be headed back there as much as I could before they do the repave and seal up the goodies for another lifetime. But, then again, maybe by the time they tear it up next time Fisher's top secret detector will have been released.

You can also get the 3.5mm transmitter with the full size Pro headphones.

Agreed the 7K is easy to use....even a caveman could do it. The hard part is parting with the $$$.. strick

GPZ 7000 Firmware Installation Procedure (PC or Mac) 1. Download the desired firmware version from the GPZ 7000 Downloads Page. You can update your GPZ to the latest version or roll back to any prior version using this method. IMPORTANT: Ensure your battery is fully charged before updating. Do not turn the detector off at any point during the update process, or the update will not be applied. 2. Connect GPZ 7000 to the computer via the USB cable. A drive called ‘Minelab’ will appear. 3. Transfer the software update file. Open the ‘Minelab’ drive, then copy the software update file into it. The update files end with the extension ".ml3" - anything else is the wrong file. Wait for the file to completely transfer. 4. Disconnect the GPZ 7000 from the computer by ejecting the drive and then unplugging the USB cable. The ‘USB Disconnected’ dialog will be displayed on the GPZ 7000 screen. This can take up to 2 minutes to complete. 5. Upgrade the GPZ 7000 firmware. At this point if the update file was properly transferred to the GPZ, the following dialog is displayed: 6. Select Upgrade to begin the firmware update. A progress bar will be displayed. If you select Cancel, the software update file you downloaded will be automatically deleted. You will need to download the update again (from step 1) to complete the process. If the Low Battery dialog is displayed, charge your battery and start the update process again. 7. Upgrade complete. When the upgrade is complete, GPZ 7000 will automatically turn off. When you power on again, the detector will start with the new firmware. 8. Upgrade failure. If you experience any trouble applying the update, try following the update steps again from start to finish. If this does not work, contact your dealer or a Minelab Service Center. 9. You can also check your detector’s software information at any time via the Version Information function on the Reset page. GPZ 7000 Firmware June 2017 (Second Update GPZ 7000 Firmware June 2017 (20170630).ml3 - Version Information will display 1.10.8-2052) (11.26 MB) GPZ 7000 Firmware October 2015 (First Update GPZ_7000_UPDATE_IMAGE_20151009.ml3 - Version Information will display 1.2.8-98) (9.69 MB) GPZ 7000 Firmware January 2015 (Original Release GPZ_7000_UPDATE_IMAGE_20150130.ml3 - Version Information will display 1.0.8-57) (10.63 MB)

I was detecting a steep narrow gulch with a vertical wall on one side and thick viscous thorn bushes on the other when a red eyed golden fanged rattle snake slithered out from a crevasse right at the level of my jugular vein. As the snake coiled back to deliver my slow painful death, I leaped straight up about 5', did a 360 degree pirouette, an delivered a stunning, precise, back hand blow with my GPZ7000 light saber and bonked the ol' snake right on the noggin. The snake crawled back into his hole in humiliated defeat and I continued detecting. I then found one of golden fangs that I had dislodged during the brief battle for my life. There my be one or two of you that question the truth of parts of my story so I have retained the services of Sourdough Scott to present photographic proof, should it become necessary.

I just did my upgrade. Thanks Steve, it would have been a struggle without your directions.

You don't open the file - you download it to your computer. Then you copy it (or move it) from your computer to the detector "hard drive".

I probably won't even waste my time on the Treasure Coast, Flak. The only Spanish gold I'll be hunting will be the rings that fall off the tourists from Spain vacationing at Cocoa Beach.

You can always load it and if you don't like it roll it back. The filters do nothing unless you turn them on so no harm done anyway except for disabling of XChange. Referring back to the start of this thread you will see this (emphasis added): Locate Patch The Locate Patch setting is a great all-rounder. This setting enables you to cover more ground faster. It smooths out unwanted ground noises, allowing you to keep a productive swing speed. With less ground noise it can also be easier to hear the fainter signals. Mild alkali soils can still be detected in this setting.. The trade-off with Locate Patch is a slight sensitivity penalty (a few percent) for the deepest targets. However, for most targets you’ll find this setting strikes a balance between absolute detection depth and productivity. Salty Soil The Salty Soil setting is a specialty setting designed to allow the GPZ 7000 to operate in extreme alkali environments that would otherwise be impossible. It is important that this setting is used only when the soil requires it, as it can have a substantial impact on detection depth. Salty Soil removes the slow audible ‘groans’ from conductive soils and retains the faster responses from gold nuggets. As a result, Salty Soil will have a bit more ‘chatter’ than the Off and Locate Patch settings; and the slow broad signals from very deep targets will be more difficult to hear.

I don't believe you. Do you have photos? Every nugget has a story! To make my story any longer I would have to embellish some details to maintain literary consistency. That would be beneath my journalistic standards.

Yeah mate some times ya just don't know when it is going to raise it's ugly head over that hill or the next, got to keep looking looking hey, that's prospecting

How can anyone enjoy THIS? That is a LOVE sort of thing I would say. My goodness ... I wish sometimes ...

Exciting stuff for sure, To be able to add salty ground and heavy laterite ground conditions to an allready brilliant detectors portfolio and to top it off be able to use the "Normal Mode" is what dreams are made of. I have an area i was just at recently in W.A. ( Aust ) that will be getting re-visited in the next few weeks to continue the "Normal Mode" experience/testing. Normal actually worked in this spot, got 42 nuggies for 26.6g but 20 metres away Normal was un-workable.. Going to be interesting !!!! Thanks Minelab ! Cheers Ashley

Probably more than ironic Scott ... The Forum knows!

This is ironic. On another topic today, it was brought up when is there going to be another gpz 7000 update? And Ka Blam, it is here

Let me be the first to congratulate you on finding the peace dollar. This find will go down in your personal record book I'm sure. I enjoyed the pictures and the story.

Excellent! I thought so based on the previous update but am glad you confirmed it - thanks!

The beach areas around the 1715 wreck areas (and you know where they are, but generally from Gold Beach to the North past Sebastian Inlet), are among the most highly regulated beach areas in the country - with good reason obviously - there have been many amazing finds both on the beaches and out in the lease areas.

The update is loaded by connecting your GPZ to a computer where it is accessed as if it is a thumb drive. Then the file is downloaded and copied to the GPZ. I believe this can be done from a Mac.

Thanks once again Steve for taking the time to provide details for us all. Do you happen to know if the update will work on Mac's?

"Not only is removing trash from the beach legal - it's encouraged!"

I would like to see a variable auto smoothing and variable ground type controls and two or three customer designed presets to save time resetting thee or four functions each time I want to cover a small piece of ground for small/ shallow vs. large/ deep. I would also like to be able to download an arm strap that would fit over my coat sleeve.

Excelent input, thanks phase tech!!! ??

Chunky stuff! Thanks for a look. She should get a Find of The Month from Minelab! Mitchel

As promised, gold found by the monster by Dales new girl. First detector she has ever used.

I am glad you are OK Klunker. Those gold fangs can destroy lives leaving permanent cases of gold fever.

You live another day to tell another story.. phew!! love the gold tooth

.... Great tale mate.....

For Klunker

I may invest when they will be out !!!!!I got one of his most twisted Eric Foster PI G5c from the postman last week while I was on a road trip on the coast with the CTX,so I cant wait to try it...............................my only worry is once those machine will be out and after 2/3 years what will be left on the beaches...................more detectorist ,less loss and better machine= less finds but anyway result is the name of the game. RR