HardPack

And higher.

I crawl down through the hatch in the floor leaving the XP Deus RC setting close to the woodstove. But the only thing down here is firewood and a couple of hibernating chipmunks. I thinking of heading back upstairs for another try under the couch cushions.. Good luck finding a parking space in Soldotna.

Yeah, what if Garrett is aiming at the ML 7000, I mean we are talking Texas! Just imagine a satellite linked “ Texas Ranger 7500 “ with ground penetrating radar and a built in trackhoe for them core-deep treasures…

No! Dilek Gonulay, NDT* has asked us to not pester her with questions regarding any unofficial release dates. However, she did not specifically restrict questions regarding official release dates. *What’s that country song about being “both pretty and smart, I am going to break a million hearts”? And now watch as I tie that comment to prospecting and detecting… Dear Dilek, I love my Legend.

No need for the mister. My parents were married… to each other. The closest I got to Woodstock was a couple of fellow marines out of upstate New York. A redheaded Irish from Callicoon, NY, made a curvy figure with both hands while asking his fellow jerk-offs “ If you could have anything back in the world.. what would it be?” Being the latest arrival from home, knowing I had a better chance, my reply was “ ice cream”. The next morning as we moved out “Red” came up from behind choking his arm around my neck singing “ Ice Cream, Ice Cream, everybody loves ice cream”, the rest of the squad joined in on the chorus. “Ice Cream” would become my call sign. Into the future my real world “hippie wife” did attended the Woodstock concert of the west at Altamount Pass. She rode up with some biker dude from Oakland. Tequila is not addictive only transformative. HardPack.. that’s a label from an old acquaintance of my wife. I eventually quit drinking in order stand up and walk… which allowed me to start metal detecting. I have found metal detectors are far more addictive but thankfully no hangovers. Doc, keep us posted on that button. “You have a real piece of maritime history there”.

You might as well enjoy the ride before making a purchase decision. Here’s a link to “History Revisited”. You may find his videos also make good training for your ear (hit the CC bottom).

The video can also apply to the XP Deus I, especially with a HF coil. It definitely puts it all together.

XP Deus II ferrous filters in Discrim & IAR. Towards the second half of the video covers ferrous settings and audio in mineralized ground.

Buried a 12mm lead round ball at 8 inches among several pieces of iron & coins at 4, 6, 7, 8 inches to test a couple of SMF VLF detectors. The ground is wet clay with a the GB 40. Both the VLF in SMF struggled with the 8” round ball, dime & penny. Decided to test the ML SDC2300 with the stock 8 inch mono loop. At sensitivity 4 & 5, without headphones. the 2300 signal was faint but clear. The 8” deep penny, nickel, dime & quarter were all detected. I was pleasantly surprised with the 2300 detection depth. I need to play with the buried iron to get a better feel to the ferrous signal. Has anyone experienced similar depths detecting with the SDC in the field?

The lode claims might be “Carlin” type deposits, there may have been speculation of resale involved. The old claim patent rules required proof of assessment work over a period of time (5 years?). There might be old (eocene) placer deposits on the ridges to the south.

Any new rumors out there of a scheduled “surprise announcement” by Nokta for a release date for their new “high end” Pulse Induction MD?

If I recall correctly John Bidwell (1841 Bartleson-Bidwell Party) was employed by Sutter at Fort Ross & Bodega Bay in Jan. 1842. Sutter purchased Fort Ross from the Russian American Company in 1841. John Bidwell relieved Robert Ridley then continued the work of dismantling the Fort Ross outpost then transferring the assets to New Helvetia. I have seen that Diving Helmet monkey face too. Try the US Navy Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) and Seal Team patches… 20,000 Leagues under the Sea?

Doc, Any progress on the sea hag button?

I just viewed “History Revisited” explanation for what he is exchanging the Manticore for the Deus II. He does not use the screen or the 2D graphics and prefers & trusts the Deus II audio. The Manticore at $1600 vs the Deus II master at $800. You may be correct regarding Garrett targeting the Deus II. We will eventually find out. I think he is over in the “classifieds” section. He has his eye on that T2. If he and Gerry are testers we won’t hear anything until after the Garrett release.

Wonder why the move, especially from the Manticore to the XP Deus II. Are they more focused on the tones? I don’t know if Garrett will shoot that high.

Yeah, if Garrett finally comes out with an AT multi frequency we will all be standing in line.

According to Google Earth, if you roll the date back, prior to the cornfield there was a hillside… …with a coffee shop just up a 45 degree slope. Cut the Garrett wishlist short, had to stop for lunch. Yeah, you’re right. This subject was beat to death last year. But here we are still waiting. Just maybe…it is an affordable $2000 pulse induction. I ain’t going there again… at least not until my probation period ends.

A Garrett AT MF, that would work!

The rumor mill is dead quiet on this exciting 2024 new Garrett Metal Detector pending release. So I am starting my own rumor straight from the horse arse. The new Garrett MD is a camouflaged first edition at a price point we can’t pass up, equipped with digital “selectibility” that allows switching between a Discriminating PI and SMF VLF or both, a stock a 10x5 coil switchable between DD and mono, a finds bag, a rebranded TRX Bullseye Pinpointer, three days of training on the rye patch with meals & lodging included. A large selection of switchable coils and…

Looking forward to reading about your Colorado prospecting experiences. Had family that worked quartz mines in the Montrose/Gunnison area in the 1930’s. They had some interesting tales of underground mining. Glad you joined the forum.

In the foothills the old timers working stream placers would often dry sample upslope once the gold played off in the stream. I believe Chris describes the process. I often follow the same procedure, stopping to examine quartz float found on the slope. As you stated or impied the limitations are the depth of the overburden, the detection depth of a metal detector and the amount brush covering the slope. I have found old sample holes while crawling under the brush cover and a few times found the source. The new collapsible detectors make the process workable. Once on or near the ridge I will follow the quartz stringer, if any, looking for a place to stand up and happy for it. I do not use headphones but the ML pro sonic speaker. I use a VLF if the ground mineralization allows. Like you I am looking for prior activity, the older the trash the better. I consider lead balls a good sign plus it gives me some idea how deep to look. Once close to the source the old timers would dig a trench down to bedrock parallel to the slope. So picks heads and broken shovels factor into the search. I often find myself thinking the old process worked for them, it could work for me. That is usually when I discover the old timers arrived at the source long ago. But it is fun, I keep searching and even get lucky from time to time.

Yeah, I got to stop sprinkling those wild mushrooms on my morning snow cone. Pretty rugged coastline north of Point Conception. No telling how many New England whalers navigated up the coastline stopping where able to resupply. I think you may have proof they pulled ashore. I got to get back to the harvest before the snow closes off access to the crawl space. Later

An 1800’s mariners/seafarers brass picture button? Might be worth some further research. Amazing! Does it appear the person in the rear has an oar with a second person seated forward? The oarsman seems to be enjoying their undersea voyage. The fish a grouper, another sea lion or the oarsman’s knee? Is the figure up forward a female reaching towards another sea lion swimming past the bow? Or is she rescuing a drowning sailor entangled in kelp? Poseidon/Neptune cruising through a kelp bed? Any sign of a trident? Leucothea & Palaemon, according to The Age of Fable by Thomas Bulfinch, both held power to save from shipwreck and were invoked by sailors; jurisdiction of the ports & shores. Leucothea (Ino in the Odyssey) a Greek sea goddess who saved Odysseus from drowning when his raft was shattered. Her murdered son Melicertes became the Greek sea god Palaemon (Portunus to the Romans).

The button appears to be a man overboard caught up in seaweed with a seal/sea lion swimming overhead; the sea lion may be chasing after a diving duck or cormorant; there also appears to be a large fish with a big mouth located below the man’s arm. The bullet mould shows some craftsmanship.

Great finds