snakejim

Sad news indeed. First time I ever tried nugget hunting was at Quartzite with a Garrett Deepseeker. It worked, I found several nuggets.

http://www.garrett.com/charles_garrett_obituary.aspx

Great site! I've been using it regularly.

Thanks a heap!

Here is a dilemna Ive wondered about,maybe someone can clear thisup for me. I spend 90% of my time relic hunting. I fully realize that claim ownership means you own the mineral rights. But...can I metal detect for relics/coins on someones claim without seeking their permission? The only obvious to my intent would be my choice in detector...usually a Tejon...rather than say swinging a gmt ,but saying Im coinshooting,lol. Anyone have thoughts on this? Ray

I wouldn't recommend it. If a claim owner sees you detecting on his claim and digging, he's going to assume you are hunting for nuggets. That won't be a good scenario. Most claims are on BLM or Forest Service administered land and the Antiquities laws say you can detect for gold or other minerals, but anything else over 50 years old is off limits. There were several folks cited under the antiquities laws at Greaterville, Az. for a pocket full of rusty nails and old junk. They were just going back to their truck to throw the junk away. It cost them a fine instead.

If you want to hunt relics, you'd best stay on private property with written permission from the land owner.

Of course it's your life and your money. Your equipment and vehicle could be confiscated under the Antiquities Laws also. It's illegal to even pick up arrowheads on public land.

Gold Bug 2, Gold Bug Pro, GMT, TDI, Sierra Gold Trac, and X-Terra 705

GPZ7000??????????

The operating frequency is selected by the manufacturer based on what he wants the detector to do; and on several things such as the conductivity of the items being searched for and in how mineralized the ground is to be searched.

There is all ways a trade off as low frequencies go deeper on high conductive items in bad ground; but they lose sensitivity to low conductive items such as small gold nuggets. Early detectors built for coin hunting  and some early gold detectors were 5khz to maybe 7 or 8 khz such as the very early White's Gold masters. Then there was the 15 khz Garrett A2B Nugget detector which worked pretty well until the original Fisher Gold Bug came out at 19khz, which was even better. Then came the newer White's Goldmasters at 48 to 50khz and then the Fisher Gold Bug 2 at 71khz, which is still today the highest frequency nugget detector on the market.

I just received a new Gold Bug 2 yesterday, as a matter of fact.

Not all coils running at the same frequency are interchangeable on other detectors. Each coil is tuned to the specific circuits of the detector it is designed for. The frequency may be the same, but the resistance and or impedance will be different.

Even though the original Gold Bug of 1982 was 19khz and the newest Gold Bugs of 2009 are 19khz they are not the same and the coils will not interchange at all. Coil designs have changed as well as the move to digital circuits, and away from analog circuit design.

Here's a link to essays written by a friend of mine who has been a designing engineer of metal detectors for many years.

http://www.fisherlab.com/hobby/dave-johnson-essays.htm

Another good link: Steve has used more detectors than any one I can think of for gold hunting.

http://www.detectorprospector.com/gold-prospecting-guides/steve-guide-gold-nugget-detectors.htm

Hope this helps.

What do hope to gain with this knowledge? Are you thinking of buying a detector?

Strick,

thanks for the post.

I sure miss that pretty country.

As azblackbird said, "Not a single fricking cactus in sight... must be nice!"

Nugget Bob,

Thanks for the post.

I have several claims in pocket country.

My resume.

I love gold.

I love to detect.

I've found gold big and small.

I know where big gold still is.

I want to find it.

The end.

OK  Got any character references?

What do you need in addition to the GPZ7000?

What's my cut on what you find?

Alright, who wants to Grubstake me????

Send me your resume!

I had a few gold prospecting related bumper stickers on my rig. I thought people might see those and draw some attention. So I peeled them off. When you carry expensive detectors. No need to stick out.

I stopped putting bumper stickers on my vehicles a couple of years ago for the same reason. Why advertise stuff that tempts thieves.

Wouldn't that be something, Whites comes up with a Pi, VLF Hybrid.....for 2995.00, 100% iron discrimination,. and goes deep!! A detector geared for nuggethunters in the U.S.

I sure doesn't cost anything to dream and wish. LOL

Very nice Steve!

Great memories for sure.

Gary I used the radio shack amp on an old SD2000 and it worked just fine.

Good one! LOL

I am waiting for the 2015 Mercedes/ Dodge Sprinter 4x4 van with 6 cylinder diesel engine and low range transfer case myself, can't justify megadollar metal detectors anymore with retirement just around the corner. Am sure the van won't be cheap either especially if converted to a 4x4 camper van...No real details on the van, ,just test drives for reporters at their distribution center  in South Carolina. Has anybody else got more info on the van? Seems like it would be the ultimate gold prospectors camper van...

 

-T

I just checked out the Sprinter 4x4 vans. Cargo model is $49,900 Passenger model is $57, 300.

Check out Steve's "Guide to Gold Nugget Detectors".

http://www.detectorprospector.com/gold-prospecting-guides/steve-guide-gold-nugget-detectors.htm

I need my fellow prospectors advice on gold scales? Is there a scale that measures in grains and fractions of a grain plus pennyweights,Troy ounces, and grams and is reliable and under say $40? The scale at work measured to only 1/10 of a gram and my home scale only does pennyweights and ounces. Scales on Ebay are saying they round off to the nearest whole number on grains and no fractions...needless to say I am confused...be nice to have one that reads in decimals to tenths of a grain for like a 1.3 grain flake...or 2.45 grams ,etc...

Thanks

 

-Tom

Scales to weigh gunpowder weigh to 1/10 of a grain, and can be found fairly cheap in the balance beam configuration(non digital).

480 grains =1 troy ounce. 20 pennyweights = 1 troy ounce. 1pennyweight =24 grains.  1 gram =15.434 grains. 31.1 grams =1 troy ounce

Very reasonable prices. Thanks!

Way to go !

Thanks Scott!

It's about time for good news on dredging in California. A couple of friends of mine have been out of work because of the moritorium.

It looks to me like the Treasure Mate uses a similar circuit to the Falcon MD-10 and MD-20; but, at a lower frequency.

In other words, kind of a pain to tune before you use it.

Where's the option for "none"

 

I wouldn't expect many on this forum to "leach" as it is primarily a detecting forum.

I go with "None" also. If I can't find free milling gold in a vein, I look for another. Leaching is usually not profitable or worth the risks for a small miner. Sometimes a rich sulfide or telluride ore can be roasted and then crushed and panned. Cost is only fire wood and no chemicals to buy. However, "Don't breathe the fumes coming off the roasting ore."

My condolences to Jerry's family and friends also.

That's neat! Looking good!

Amazing. Thanks for the video!

RSJ