HardPack

Nokta Detection Technologies has released the Legend firmware v.1.14 Beta-1 Beast mode, here is the description from the Nokta website: V1.14 Beta-1 Test - Beast Mode Software Update (2024.04.08) Updates Made: 1. Deep Target Identification (dt) feature has been added. This feature allows non-ferrous deep targets, which are masked or detected as iron (ferrous), to be detected as non-ferrous. To access this feature, select the Recovery Speed setting and press the pinpoint button. When you navigate with the right and left keys, the letters "dt" will appear on the right side of the screen. You can change the value of the dt setting between 1-6 by using the plus (+) and minus (-) buttons. When it is at 0, this feature is off. When you increase the value, the stability of the device may diminish. This feature can be used in all modes with both multi-frequency and single frequencies. 2. Beast mode has been added. Very deep targets may have values close to the surrounding soil and therefore may not be detected. Beast mode allows you to detect targets at depths that cannot be detected in other modes. This mode resets the ground balanced soil, allowing deep coins and large masses to be detected by the detector. However, in this mode, targets at fringe depths may not give an ID or their ID may be unstable. To use this feature, simply press the frequency key in Gold Field mode. Beast mode is indicated on the screen by the letters "bE" under the multi frequency symbol M. (April 17, 2024 edit: use All Metal Discrimination A only in Beast Mode). 3. Second ground balance feature added in Beast mode. Due to its configuration, Beast mode may cause the device to give false signals to ground changes and mineralized/hot rocks. This may cause discomfort to the user during detection. Beast mode offers users a 2nd ground balance feature to overcome mineralized/hot rocks, red bricks and other ground changes in the surrounding environment that have different properties than the soil that’s been ground balanced. With the second ground balance, depending on the properties of the hot rock or brick, in some cases, complete silence can be achieved over these falsing targets. In other cases, a broken signal may be heard. Broken sounds indicate that the detected target is a mineralized/hot rock. To use this feature, press the Ground Balance button to access the setting. Then, activate the 2nd ground balance feature by pressing the Frequency button. When the 2nd ground balance is activated, the number "2" appears on the screen above the letters Gb. You can perform the 2nd ground balance by pressing the pinpoint button. When Beast mode is selected, 1st and 2nd ground balancing can only be performed automatically. Manual ground balancing is not possible. You can switch from the 2nd ground balance to the first one by pressing the Frequency button again. ( April 17, 2024 Edit: in Beast Mode must Ground Balance). 4. Ability to reset the 1st and 2nd ground balance settings in the Beast mode. While Beast mode is selected, the ground balance value is reset by entering the ground balance menu and long pressing the up button. When the button is held down, the animation is shown on the screen. To reset the 2nd ground balance value, first activate the 2nd ground balance. Reset the 2nd ground balance value by pressing the up button again. 5. "Iron Rejection" feature in Beast mode. Beast mode, like the Gold Field mode, produces signals for both non-ferrous and ferrous targets by changing the frequency of the sound according to the strength of the received signal. In order to distinguish ferrous targets, especially those closer to the surface, depending on the signal strength received from the ferrous target, the device emits a lower tone than that of the non-ferrous targets with the frequency varying according to the strength of the signal. To access this feature, select the Recovery Speed setting and press the pinpoint button. The letters "Ir" will appear on the right side of the screen. You can change the value of the "Ir" setting between 1-5 by using the plus (+) and minus (-) keys. When it is at 0, this feature is off. When the value is increased, the probability of emitting a ferrous tone for deep non-ferrous targets increases.

I did several tests between multiple metal detectors with different DD coils for gold prospecting. The Minelab EQX 900 with the Coiltek 10x5 NOX at sensitivity settings between 8 to 14 detected 0.2 gram and smaller gold flakes. The detection depth varied per soil mineralization and the size of the gold. On the claims prospected a sensitivity setting greater than 14 with CT 10x5 picked up enough EMI to mask smaller near surface small gold. On the other hand the EQX 900 with the stock 6 inch round coil allowed sensitivity settings ranging from 12, 14, 16 and 18 with less of an EMI or ground mineralization impact. The CT 10x5 had a strong detection center line. The higher the sensitivity setting the stronger the detection at the coil tips. For gold prospecting the EQX 900 wider -19 to 99 Target ID range is a plus for sites with a combination of hot rocks and small gold. The hot rocks TID 3 to 5 while the small gold TID 1 to 8, again depending on soil mineralization and target depth. The plus is the CT 10x5 will detect larger deeper gold plus smaller surface gold if the target is detected along the center line tip to tip. The coil edges do detect but on small gold the signal is weak even with headphones. The CT 10x5 NOX is a very sensitive coil so increasing the sensitivity setting will pick up more EMI and ground mineralization without much benefit. For gold detecting with the EQX 900 I keep the recovery at 4, Iron Bias at 2 (which allows rusted square nail/iron signals to partially come through) then set the sensitivity to the site soil mineralization/EMI. Using the 1 to 99 Discrimination pattern avoids the lower TID ground noises ( -19, -18, -17). Hitting the All Metal horseshoe to verify ferrous (rusted iron) or non-ferrous targets…and dig all when in doubt.

The California Department of Water Resources measured the Sierra Nevada snowpack’s water content at the Phillips Station in the Lake Tahoe area at 64 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 27.5 inches. DWR’s electronic readings from 130 stations placed throughout the state indicate that the statewide snowpack’s snow water equivalent is 28.6 inches, or 110 percent of the April 1 average, a significant improvement from just 28 percent of the average on January 1. Plus an April storm system forecast is for snow level dropping to 2500 feet on Thursday the 4th.

The California Water Control Board locked that subject down in this State. Still a few out there but I don’t expect to see any posts on the subject. A couple of Carson City locals pointed out the location of an old stamp mill along the Carson River out of Dayton Valley. May not be much gold but they claimed to of found plenty of mercury flipping stream boulders. The river hasn’t froze over since the last ice age but the wind and snow blowing down the canyon may be close enough.

The majority of the party did stayed behind to continue trapping for beaver on multiple tributaries up into the lower foothills. Smith left instructions if he did not return by September they were to sell the pelts then head for home. They must of been totally focused on beaver not to see all that free gold under foot.

Been detecting the claim with the Legend in goldfield multi, sensitivity 15/16. In the test garden the soil is different from the claim but similar ground balance numbers. In the test garden I was able to hear a faint threshold break on an 8 inch deep 30 caliber lead ball. Today I used a 56 kHz single frequency VLF detector in All Metal on the claim to double check. The TID range is 0 to 99 so the hot rocks were hitting TID 3/4. Picked up the same targets ranging from 22/40 caliber lead, lead pellets & boot tacks. Both detectors are actually smoother at mid range sensitivity settings. I think lifting the coil is a good option, if in doubt dig. However, per the ML EQX 900 manual…search modes… the Multi IQ processes a lower or higher weighted multi-frequency while “ground balancing for soil”. Assuming the Legend also uses the remaining SMF for “ground balancing the soil” this may identify the missing small target problem. There might be a trade off where small targets are ground balanced out as a part of the mineralized soil. Could Recovery speed, even on low iron trash sites, be a solution?

The site I am detecting is a slope with a contact separating an upper basalt formation from a down slope slate formation. Erosion has carried the basalt sediments down slope along with quartz from the contact over the upslope portion of the slate formation. With the Legend basalt hot rocks consistently hit TID 1 with an occasional roll over to 60. The problem Is small gold on the surface will hit TID 4 or 5 then even lower depending on depth. With ground discrimination the basalt hot rocks are eliminated along with the possibility of smaller gold targets. There is no problem detecting 22 caliber or larger lead or brass casings. Been able to deal with ground noise with both ground balancing and lower sensitivity adjustment but in All Metal Discrimination the basalt hot rocks remain. I’ll try lifting the coil over TID 1 targets as you suggest plus dig all targets until I am satisfied there’s no hidden small gold. Thanks for the demo.

March 26, 2024 view to the south; unless the month of March rolls out with a roar it looks to be a normal run off season. On the 20th of May, 1827 Jedediah Smith with two members of his party, six horses and two mules departed from a confluence on the San Joaquin River returning east to the Rendezvous over Mt. St. Joseph (Sierra Nevada). A quote from his journal "May 26th The storm still continues with unabated violence...The wind was continually changing and the snow drifting and flying in every direction...Our poor animals felt a full share of the vengeanc of the storm and two horses and one mule froze to death before our eyes... the sun of another day might never rise to us." From his journal that crossing may of occurred along a divide near the point of this photograph.

Ambient noise implies to me a low level constant sonic source as to a shorter duration thumper or earthquake seismic wave. The ANT cross section I have seen online indicate gross fault offset or dip change with depth. My question is with a ANT surface array in place combined with a constant sonic signal would the cross section imagine resolution improve over time with repeated timed measurements to a level to be able to pick out the contact between different rock formations?

Multiple papers online regarding west coast major faults systems, found one paper with both vertical & horizontal cross sections. Appears a major array is in place over Nevada and the southeastern Sierra Walker Lane. The cross section imagines are color coded I assumed based on bedrock density. Some impressive depths.

American Mining Rights Association has access to two claims in SLO. Mining claims are listed on the site. Annual fees $200 with occasional group gatherings on different claims plus several videos. https://www.americanminingrights.com/

This link may be a clue to the connection between northern and southern gold pocket regions. It appears the Penon Blanco Formation is a basalt island arc sandwiched within the Sierra Foothill Jurassic terrane slates extending from the area of Coulterville, CA north beyond the confluence of the Klamath & Salmon rivers at Sawyers Bar. In the Central Sierras the Foothill and Calaveras terranes are separated by the Melones fault zone. To the east of the Melones fault is located the Sonora fault. The south/north Sonora fault is the local pocket region extending from downtown Sonora northwest towards the Tuttletown area. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/YXQ2RVY5BVTZ893XVT8Y?target=10.1111/j.1365-3121.2008.00834.x Penon Blanco basalt along the Penon Blanco Ridge. Photo, by others, taken on northwest side of the Highway 49 bridge over the Tuolumne river. Foothill Slates/ Penon Blanco basalt contacts run north/south. The east side contact sediment slope ranges from 40 to over 60 degrees.

I’d be surprised if you have any problems with Nokta standing by the warranty. Let us know if you do.

A Doc DaLAs “SaM I Am, GreEn haM And eGgs.”😗 “agitator”, green… …an intoxicated marine searching for pizza along the south bank of the Tijuana river?🤪 …a green rock tumbler with an agitating rock polisher and loose screw? …a shaft mounted green coin washer with an agitator setting?

Could Doc be solving a problem before we are caught up sh..t creek with a DALAS- Detector Assay Laser Analysis System attachment? or … 🤓 a packable solar panel for battery recharging plus a head mounted whirly bird wind turbine; or Counter EMI system grounded to 3 miles of gridded bungee cord; or a self deployed medivac lift kit equipped with a survival kit of freeze dried pizza; or A metal detector weed-eater attachment with a satellite link for helio pizza delivery; or a time share requiring a canoe trip; or wind powered self-kneading sourdough pizza machine; or DALAS - Detector and Loop Attachment System with non-metallic mounts 🧐

V1.13 is the latest firmware. I use the LG24 on ground that balances 42 to 52. Lots of volcanic and hot rocks. Even with the sensitivity at 30 I did not experience the issues you are having unless the LG24 actually hit something plus I do scrub the coil. Have you checked under the coil cover for debris?

Something may be wrong with either the LG24 or the detector. Have you experienced the same issues with the LG30?

The sticker location on the LG24 is the coil hot spot. When you set the detector aside to dig a target the coil may be picking up any EMI area. Sounds as if the sensitivity setting was set high. At high sensitivity settings, depending on the discrimination pattern, the coil may also pick up any ground mineralization. As an example in goldfield, recovery 3 or 4, in all metal, sensitivity 16 to 18 the LG24 is stable but the coil will pick up hot rocks and EMI when set aside. At sensitivity 25 plus every stick, rock or brush hit with the coil will product a signal. When you lift the coil to avoid contact the signal should not be repeatable. When the coil is in motion the EMI should drop off. On my ground with the “ground discrimination pattern” the hot rocks drop off along with detection depth even at a higher sensitivity setting. I have found in goldfield search mode adjusting swing speed for a lower recovery speed, a mid range sensitivity setting, all metal, produces a cleaner threshold target break plus slightly more depth. There’s a similar discussion regarding sensitivity settings on the ML Manticore entitled “Normal vs Overdrive”.

Found the original Mining and Scientific Press July-Dec 1893 article on “Pocket Mining” published July 8, 1893 in the California Historical archives. There was the original article then several following articles published under “ Pocket Mines/ Free or Decomposed Pockets” on the following pages & dates. July 8, 1893, page 22, “Pocket Mining’ the original article; July 15, 1893, page 37, “Pocket Mining Number II” July 22, 1893, page 53, “Pocket Mining Number III” July 29, 2893, page 68, “ Pocket Mining Number IV” August 5, 1893, page 84, “Pocket Mining Number V” Google: Mining and Scientific Press July-Dec 1893 or https://archive.org/embed/miningscien67unse

Mining and Scientific Press, May 18, 1893; page 289, California Manganese. “Manganese is a "pockety" sort of substance to mine, the deposits being irregular and not to be counted on as to extent. It is produced in this State in a small way, mainly for use in the manufacture of chlorine for the chlorination of auriferous sulphurets…” Manganite: hydrated manganese oxide (MnO(OH)), opaque metallic gray or black, occurs in hydrothermal deposits with calcite; alters to pyrolusite. Gold is often locked within the matrix of iron sulfides (not chemically bonded). Manganese in proximity to chloritic basalt or schists may actual play a role in concentrating gold in pockets. Check the hillside quartz float for iron oxide rust strains, calcite and dark traces of manganite.

I believe Goldbrick linked the original article “ 1893 Pocket Hunting Treatise” on the DP forum back in 2014 which he found on a Canadian forum. From experience in the Mother Lode region “surface pockets” are commonly localized shallow deposits at narrow points where smaller east to west trending quartz stringers cross larger north to south trending quartz veins in the proximity of a ferrous rich rock formation. The N/S veins often occur along faults as a result of plate subduction. The E/W stringer veins often occur at along fractures as a result of subsequent earthquakes. The crossings occurred miles below ground under both high temperature and pressure. Millions of years of erosion has exposed the crossings on the surface. The hillside quartz float is indicative of the scale of uplift and erosion. Only a portion of the surface quartz veins may still exist both horizontally and vertically. Rock type contacts with a mafic rock* (silica poor igneous rock with a relative to a high magnesium, iron and calcium content) fit the minerals described in the article including porphyritic. * Ophiolite rock sequence: basalt, diabase, gabbro, serpentinite, peridotite; mafic to ultramafic; oceanic crust, igneous, volcanic, intrusive & extrusive. Greenstone=chloritic basalt; feldspar porphyry; Smartville Complex.

Check out the Garrett Direct outlet if you are interested in their metal detectors. The current sale ends on March 18th, a Garrett Axiom has a $599 and the Goldmaster 24K has a $ 100 Lucky discount. Keep in mind new detector release rumors have it that April 1st is Garrett’s 60th BD.

Check the DP Forum’s Detector Database on page 2, has the Garrett 24K specs plus rechargeable batteries & charger.

More from the same 1893 article “ Pocket Mining”: ” The pocket-belts, or streaks of formation, which are prolific in pockets, are mostly porphyry or of a porphyritic or quartz-porphyry nature running parallel with the slate, granite, lime, etc.” ” …at the point where the pocket occurs, is generally largely composed of lime (calcite), iron, copper or manganese.” “ …a pocket without lime (calcite), iron, copper, lead and sulfur has not yet been found. They are always present in free or decomposed pockets. They may not always occur in the same form, but they are generally in a chloride or metallic state. These five minerals are the key to the pocket and what cause the pocket to form.” With gold as the sixth.

The article “ Pocket Mining” originally published in the Mining and Scientific Press in July/August 1893 under the pseudonym Alex Quartz. The article covers the area from Fresno, California north to Douglas County, Oregon. The chemistry is similar to the description in your first post. This is the only information found in the article regarding crossings at serpentine contacts: ” They (pockets ?) occur on small stringers of quartz not over a half inch in width and often not more than six or eight feet in length, and generally cut through soft, yellow porphyry. The best free pockets are always found in the porphyry or on or near the contact with the porphyry and serpentine. The most of this class of pockets when laid bare are very deceiving to the eye, for the reason that little or no gold is visible, it being coated and concealed by iron oxide, manganese, etc.”