Gerry in Idaho

Gold Catcher,  Fantastic article and read as I too am a big fan of VLF's (with identification) in trashy areas.  Your soils are a little more hot that a couple of my Eastern Oregon sites as I try to get GAIN around 18/19.  Also, when the smaller coil comes out, I think this will help us a little.

Keep up the great reports my friend and may the next big signal produce one of those monster specimens in all that trash.

I got to thinking of some old sites I've been to in years past.  Swinging since the 70's I have partaken and or witnessed some interesting and sometimes crazy finds.  I came up with 3 conclusions of how a larger nugget could be recovered from the surface in such a well known area.

1st - Trash from previous Prospector was near the nugget and or even covering it.  I say this, as a friend of mine detected a cellar hole in NV back in the early 90's.  He recovered a gold coin I had missed.  I did very well in that hole previous and the only way I would have missed it, is from rusty old cans.

2nd - Serious erosion and earth movement.  It could have been from a flood and or a simple uprooting from an animal.  I have recovered both gold nuggets and coins from such happenings and the last time was right at Rye Patch, NV. We had a serious gully washer in a particular wash that had been quite productive.  I decided the amount of earth movement would be worth a swing and sure enough, I spotted a half gram nugget on the surface, just before I swung the coil over it.

3rd - Previously lost by someone else and then found again.   I was detecting Nevada with an Axiom.  A well known nugget hunter had been in there previously and found some nuggets with his Axiom.  He left the site to me so I could find a few.  Well low and behold, I hit a jackpot.  I get a stronger signal in between to small bushes and see a film canister.  Guess what, it has a few nuggets in it and I didn't even have to dig.  

In situation #3.  Do the nuggets in the film canister now belong to me, or do they belong to the 1st person who found them?

Our gold hunting friends are slowly fading away.  Sorry to see another be put to rest and my heart goes out to the family/friends nearest him.  Each time this happens, so much knowledge is lost to the wayside. It was fun and a pleasure to read his experiences.  Life is not the cycle most of us wish.

Thanks for keeping us informed.

It's a nice story but I'm on the side of dig4gold.  With something like that being reported, it draws so much attention (good and bad).  Now folks with detectors will try to sneak in the area.  Now there's a higher premium on the price of claims in that surrounding area.  I would think those who stumbled across it, would at least detect the area and get the gravy 1st.  Either way, it's great to hear/see.

Steve, you've been my shadow, my mentor, my friend for 25 years and mostly because of metal detecting. 

SHADOW - I say shadow, as our detecting careers started right about the same time. I say shadow because I feel you are one of the few who says it like it is and won't let a manufacture dictate your words.  I say shadow because your ability to adapt to different detecting conditions and still earn success.  I say Shadow, as I feel we both enjoy helping folks with their detectors. I say shadow because your capabilities detecting for a variety of treasures is tops (Coins, Gold Nuggets in different regions, Recovery of gold rings).  

MENTOR - Very few in this industry impress me with their detector capabilities but you are one of those few.  Mentor, as I read, watch, listened, chatted on the phone and in person...with you a number of times to learn about detecting gold in other areas besides the desert and traditional gold areas.  Your knowledge sharing helped me at one of my favorite styles of gold hunting, the Tailing Piles.  Mentor, because your desire to spread detector knowledge is TOPS in this industry.

FRIEND - You always had my back and support, likewise.  We've hunted trophy gold at Ganes together, chased big Au at More Creek together, hunted NV a few times and all the stories, camaraderie, knowledge shared back and forth has benefited us both.  Friends, because even when you pissed me off, it was probably for the right reason.  Friends, because my door is always open to you and you always call back if I leave a message.

Buddy, My mindset, the body and my desires are slowly changing as well.  I imagined those so called "golden years" would be fun filled swinging a detector all day and worrying about the next hunt.  Oh boy what a crock of sheet I was thinking.  Lifes lessons we learn as we go and grow.  I totally understand your mindset and reality.  It's coming to me as well.

One thing is for sure Steve.  Buddy you lived the life so many dream about and the way you did it.. is amazing.  We appreciate all you gave/give as I know the time you did all that was time away from those family around you.  Nothing to be ashamed about, we all have our issues.  Looking forward to our next visit and probably just sitting around telling stories.  Hats off to you and a detecting career only a few could pull off.

1 hour ago, Swegin said:

Me not being a dealer I'm not going to pretend to know what dealers go through from Minelab.  My post was like a fantasy draft if you will.   

True but out of that handful, how many excel at both nugget hunting and relics?  

I appreciate the confidence and yes I'm quite skilled on a variety of detectors as many of you know it's a passion thing I've been doing for 50 yrs.

What I find interesting about this whole thing is Minelab wanting to charge the people.  If this was a metal detector dealer or club and they were putting on an Open Hunt with prizes, then yes it's been going on for years.  But a detector manufacture doing it just doesn't sit well with me.  Hey, I'm just one guy who is going off of past experiences in my 50 yrs swinging and when I used to run the circuit of Hunts in the NW back in the 80's and 90s.  I get it, times change.  Just like Big Box Stores selling detectors.  Heck at one time my Dealer Contract protected me from such.

Well things certainly do change and so who knows, maybe this is something that will be come normal.

One thing that's interesting is they left out the Western States and the Prospectors, but yet they call the contest "Masters of Metal".  I guess Gold Nuggets are not metal?  Interesting title though.

They want to find great detectorists to promote their needs AND CHARGE ????? This is the same Minelab that decided big box stores were to get more Manticores than dealers.  A handful of (not all) dealers are some of the best detectorists out there...and Minelab already knows them.  Minelab is really stretching it now.  Boy have times changed.  Good luck to whoever accepts.

There's probably some fine print - No Minelab dealers allowed.  Reality is they pissed many off.

On 6/13/2023 at 12:19 PM, Wilderland said:

I very recently witnessed an air test comparison on small gold with the X-Terra Pro against both an Equinox 800 & 900, a Manticore, an Axiom, and a 6000 & 7000. 

Good to see you on here sharing a little of what you learned.  Mostly glad you were able to join us for the training at Rye Patch.  Don't worry about those who say negative, they don't know what they don't know and they don't have the varying gold to test, as they MISS IT.

Yes, the X-Terra Pro was able to respond to some gold the GPZ-7000 and other high end gold detectors can't see. Yes I could do a video of it, but what's the use, nay sayers would argue and think I'm trying to trick the world.

Fact is and Steve H mentioned it- Not all gold bearing ground is mineralized.  

Remember folks.  Sometimes hand placer gravels and some tailing piles, have the mineralized dirt removed already.  Thats why it has been mentioned a few times by a few of us who know, in some situations, a VLF with larger coil, gets near the depths of PI's...but we are able to use features the VLF's have (such as target ID and or Iron ID).

No, I'm not saying the X-Terra Pro is a gold detector and I never did.  Even to this day I won't say such.  But as Simon and a couple others indicated, it could be used for someone who mainly hunts coins/relics/beach and if the rare occasion arrives, they could try it in a pinch. 

The training we offered, the X-Terra Pro and the Manticore were the 1st time there as we were just as curious as the rest of you, what these detectors can see and the ID #'s they read on the screen.  My Field Staff and I were just as surprised as you and really impressed, actually way more impressed than I would have expected.

Not sure why so many folks get stuck on price points and feel the more you pay, the more you get.  Heck remember, a less money Garrett Axiom or Minelab GPX-6000 outperforms a way more expensive GPZ-7000 for a variety of gold.  As for VLF's a less money EQ-800 with outperform the more expensive Gold Monster 1000 on a variety of gold in different soils.  And yes, the X-Terra Pro can even see a few kinds of gold in certain situations, the big machines are blind.

As said, those who miss it, don't know...they missed it.

Thanks for sharing part of what you witnessed and yes, I do feel the X-Terra Pro will eventually become a very popular detector at that price point for many tasks.  No, I won't be selling it as a gold detector, but do know it can do more than most realize.

After all, it was my buddy (here on DP) Ron who sparked my interest on the X-Terra Pro.  He already mentioned his bit of knowledge/learning when he did a little testing.  I agree 100% with him, it actually does better than expected for a sub $300 detector, who would have thought?

Happy Fathers Day back at you Chuck and may your day be blessed.

Even though my spoiled child is not proper, I still love him to death.  No proper kids for my wife/I, so we just spoil the 4 legged type.  Pics of my baby with one of his toys when he was all ears and no body.

and then when he filled out and started costing us money for food.

Happy Fathers Day to you all no matter who you love/spoil.

SunRay Pro Gold are another top brand but Ralph retired a couple years back.  Here's the scoop for those that don't know.  John Smith is the guy who used to build the SunRay headphones for Ralph.  John Smith also has his own brand "Killer Bees" and I myself prefer the "Wasp" model.  He also has top performing 1 ear headphones for areas with rattlesnakes.

Killer Bee's are American Made and lifetime warranty (and he backs it up).  All he asks is that you register the headphones when you get them.  He's a great guy to deal with in the many years I've done with him.

I heard Gray Ghost went through some management change and their products are not as good as before.  Maybe that is hearsay?  But when enough folks start complaining, that says something.

Black Widows are also top performers but a little tight on the head if you have a big grape.

The Koss UR-30's on most Minelab's have top quality sound, but their durability?  Does not exist.

We have a member on here that just moved back to NC.  He's done some of that work for folks and all looks good to me.  Look up Steve Wandt on Facebook..  Heck, he might still be on DP?  Good luck and be sure to show us the final product.

That's a fine chunky au nugget and the depth is most amazing.  Welll eanred.

10 hours ago, dirtman said:

Sounds like you've "taken to" the Axiom well 👍

I'm a Lurker trying to learn as much as possible about this USA entry to Electronic Prospecting.

My main concern yet is to start seeing nuggets being detected at depths, like 6 to 18 inches 😎🤠🎯

Good Luck an Happy Huntn !

Not my deepest Axiom gold but one I caught on video.  Sorry for the extra exuberant...but I get all giggle when chunky in the hand. 

17 hours ago, Calmark said:

I believe the ability to manually select different modes or timings on the Axiom are what set it apart from more automatic units like the ML 6k.  Got salt?  Switch to salt mode without need to swapping to a different DD coil.  Too many tiny shards of iron from cans or wires wasting time?  Switch to normal timing to knock out the tiny targets.  And even low sensitivity settings find the gold, and quite tiny and coarse too.  I have more sub .1gr nuggets with the Axiom so far than I ever got with the GPX 5000 and even my SDC!

Mark,  Glad you were able to score some Rye Patch gold on the last soaking adventure.  What's even more impressive is your ability to do it with the Axiom.  I've said it so many times before, but some folks think it's sales talk.  Glad you mentioned it as well.  The Axiom with it's Fine Tuning capabilities can do things the more expensive GPX-6000 can not.  

As for depth, I've dug some 12"+ nuggets (specimens) and on bigger gold, the Axiom is so close to the GPX-6000, you are splitting hairs.

My group was there training June 9th - 11th and the ground was not that bad, but it was still the worst June hunt I have ever done.  I think 15 to 20 nuggets were found by all.  There was a storm coming in when we left, so that must have been afterwards, as the pics below were not as such when we pulled out.

Yes I was sent a couple pics of the cross roads to the burn barrel turn off.  Looked like a serious gully washer came down.  

Majuba in the background.

Again, great on you for realizing the situation you were in, the GPX-6000 was not the best tool.  Thats why I always take  a couple on any given trip.

Lundy,  When the ground is ideal, be sure to let us all know so we can head that way.

Minelab USA,  didn't call me, didn't text me or email.  I heard 2nd source.  Minelab USA probably didn't even know until yesterday or today.  Sorry it's not what we'd like, but it's what it is.  At least we have an update. 

I was just informed of the Software update to the Manticore.  One of the items mentioned, is better performance for Gold Prospecting.  Glad to see that added.

I look forward to hearing what others have to say Pros and Cons. 

Love seeing those cuts.

Now you can say you went behind a GPX-6000 and found gold he missed and you didn't spend $2000 more either.

Which is best?  Heck man that's an open end question.

Best at value?

Best at Ergonomics?

Best at Discrimination?

Best at coil options?

Best at durability and least amount of issues?

Best at Relic Hunting?

Best at small gold?

Best at Big Gold?

Best at User Friendly?

I own both and have posted much gold found with both in times past.

For a 50% more price increase of the GPX-6000 in the USA $6000 vs $4000 for the Axiom, what is best?  I don't see the average person needing to spend the extra $2000 and in fact I would recommend that person get a good VLF to complement the PI.

As I said, I own both and for now, plan on keeping both.  But I use them as tools and can afford both.

I'll be in the field soon and hopefully find some gold this year.

So far my best piece is a small chunky specimen with the Equinox 900

The Axiom is more sensitive than a GPX-4500, so you better contact your dealer and have him test it. I feel the Axiom is not working properly.

You made a wise decision to upgrade and eventually you see the benefits of the Axiom.

Jim McCulloch - "Paps", You have been an ambassador and inspiration for this industry for at least 30 yrs and probably longer.  Names like Jimmy Sierra Normandi, Hoss Blackman, Larry Sallee, Jim Straight, James McCulloch (you), Woody Woodworth were all the bigger names when my puppy ears started listening for the nuggets.  Sure I go back to the early 70's for Coin/Relics, but it was not until mid 90's I started taking gold detectors seriously.  Thanks for the comments on my article being worthy of a magazine.  What is a magazine anyway and are there any left?

As MSC mentioned, that's pretty good for RP considering how hard it's been detected for 25 yrs.  I noticed Larry had his detector set for bigger gold than you Lundy?  Or is his old ears starting to miss the really small bits?  Great on you both.  Be sure and leave a few for my customers coming up for the training in June.

SnakeJim - Glad you are using the features some detectors provide and saving your back/legs for another hunt.  Yes, I too used to dig it all and then wondered why some machines have those features on them.  Just like a new truck has options and features most of us never use, but in the right situation, those bells and whistles actually make the truck that much more enjoyable.  Thanks for the input.

D&P-OR (Del) - Eastern Oregon (my stomping ground as well) has some really nice gold.  Here's a golden grin of the Idaho find before I cleaned it.

Below is a pic after cleaning.

Your neck of the woods below (Eastern Oregon).

The 10 ozt. specimen below, I recovered in ore dump piles with a GM-1000 while training customers.  They were running GPX detectors and the amount of iron they were digging was very frustrating for them.  I tried explaining the importance of using different gold detectors in situations that can save time and energy.  I used one of the students Monsters and recovered this $5000 rock.  I didn't keep it though.  When you hand over a chunk of gold that size to the claim owners and explain why they make different gold detectors with varying features, it surely makes a believer out of them.  Could a GPX detect it?  Most certainly, but they had about given up with those machines as most PI's raw depth and power is a double edge sword.  It's a hard pill to swallow, when someone with a $5000 gets so frustrated and then a sub $1000 recovered the gold with much less effort.  Just another reason why I try to help educate folks on the importance of different technologies and detector methods.  As for the piece I recovered with 24K, that's an Idaho find from ore dump piles.  The gold in the pic with the bill, is from Oregon and was also Ore Dump piles using Iron ID.  Thanks for your enthusiasm.

Blackjack - Most certainly different regions/areas require varying tactics.  Knowing where/when to use Iron ID/Target ID/Disc is key.  At one time (we all) used to dig it all.  Some of eventually wonder if there is an easier or more proficient way.  Most certainly is in many (not all) situations.  Glad you are open to trying features on your detector.  Heck, when the Equinox 800 came out, how many people actually used it for gold?  Most laughed at me and thought it was all salesman talk.  

 I'd say more on the subject, but my mouth is full at the moment.  Thanks for your input as well.

Geof_junk - Yes, it's an art in a way and knowing when/how to use it can be very beneficial.  I realize many areas are not the same as I hunt here in the USA, but the area you show in the picture with rusty cans and tin, is a good place for different detecting techniques and approaches.  Expert hunters as yourself even said you walked away.  That's exactly my point.  The best of us give up on certain areas and explore the fringes and outer perimeters of that site, in pursuit of less trash.  But in all honesty, here in the US, it's time to go back to such sites and use features some of the detectors provided.  1st thing I would do on that site is drag some super magnet bars and try to remove as much as possible.  You're experienced enough to know different tricks to get a few more pieces.  Now, I agree 100% if small bits in that trash area, then I'm not as desiring to spend a lot of timing cleaning up the trash.  Sure, I know some gold may still be there, but I'll chase bigger stuff 1st.  Actually, at my stage of gold nugget hunting, I'm not one to get excited on small bits anymore and I don't do it for a living.  the last 5 yrs, I spend most of my time focusing on the few bigger chunks.  Thanks for adding.

Noriv - I'm totally content with you using zero DISC for those open areas.  When I visited Au back in the 90's, I never once even thought of using DISC as the sites we hunted were as your mentioned and pretty much trash free.  Sure there is the occasional surface target (usually trash), but nothing like I encounter here in the US as I mostly hunt previously worked gold bearing ground.  And yes I agree, as we age with wisdom, we learn to conserve the amount of energy our body provides us each day and use it most wisely.  No more spring chicken left.  Thanks for chiming in.

Gold Catcher - Yes for the average beginner Joe, I feel using DISC or Target ID features is not desired.  Those folks have not learned the ropes yet and need to dig their share of holes.  Heck, that's exactly why I don't mind having a group of newbies go swing an area before me.  Just make sure they pack the trash out that they are digging.  In the end it makes my job much easier when they remove the majority of trash.  Yes, small gold and even bigger gold at depth will not register properly on all detectors.  Each one built that has such features, there's a depth or ground conditions that all of them can be fooled.  That's why when I'm at sites like Rye Patch and realize the gravy is gone, I'm more apt to use ZERO DISC.  I usually won't chase those screamer surface targets out there either as 99% of the time, they are fresh bullets.  Knowing when to be selective is very important.  Thanks for adding.

Andrew - I'm glad to see you chime in as I know your experience with a PI for relic hunting is near the tops.  You have tested, compared and listened to enough targets to teach yourself the fine lines of PI's and how they respond.  Heck, even your skill with many of the VLF's is tops.  I've seen enough of your posts and videos to know you're one of the few who takes the time to go out and just compare/practice/train your ears.  Using DISC in your head is very important and you do better than most.

Jasong - Interesting quotes my friend.  Being a WY guy who travels to many areas/states hunting gold, I think you/I are alike as we encounter many more options of gold bearing grounds.  The rules to gold hunting?  I honestly don't think there are rules to hunting gold, as there are to many variables for the ones who travel.  That's part of the reason why some have success more often.  But being able to adapt is a big part of it as well.  Thanks for providing.

Dirtman - The ear is a great tool.  I just wish more newer customers relied on it and not the LCD screen on their detectors.  Even advanced hunters such as yourself use Mind Discrimination and make a decision based on signal width, strength and site location.  I noticed your profile does not give a location of you and it's hard to tell where you spend your hours swinging?  Based of your comments and style of detecting, I'm willing to gestimate you usually don't hunt dredge tailings much?  No worries, as many folks don't, just for the facts that not are around.  Everyone has one.... I've seen that before. Alls good and thanks for input.

10 hours ago, mn90403 said:

Gerry,

You ARE an EXPERT.

Mitchel

Detector Expert....I know more than most.

Gold Prospecting Expert... Not exactly when compared to those I know who do ti full time.  I sell detectors for a living and provide knowledge from my near 50 yrs of swinging them.  I don't hunt gold for a living and I don't get checks from the manufactures.  I have a select few customers who do hunt gold for a living and I'll warn most, it's sometimes a rough, solitude life with a different mindset. 

The great debate of DISCRIMINATION, Iron ID and Target #'s when detecting for Gold.  The war of words is about to begin.  So lets try to stay on point and be courteous of others ways/ideas or skill levels for those who are newer to the game.

This is an open end post and all who respond, reply, ask questions, disagree and or partially agree is 100% totally fine and discussion desired.

So many times I’ve heard from the Experts who detect for gold, they say “Dig It All” and to never used Discrimination.  So I guess there really is no debate?  Just do what the Experts do and live with the results.  Is that such like good advice from so called Experts.  So if this is the case, then why do the detector manufactures offer it (discrimination or ID) on their machines?  VLF Gold type detectors have had Iron Identification on some models since the 1980’s and I also know earlier General Purpose detectors offered DISC as far back to the early 70s.  I imagine those of you who have been around for longer than I could even know of detectors with such capabilities  go back before the dates I mentioned?  Heck, even Minelab Pulse Induction detectors in the 1990’s provided Iron DISC feature. 

So are all those manufactures and variety of detector models, just selling us bells and whistles?  Remember what so called Expert says, “dig it all”.  The manufactures have to know something?  Maybe there are times and or locations that Discrimination and or Iron ID is indeed a needed feature?  Maybe the models with such are for dummies who know nothing as they have never spoken with an Expert?  Could said Expert who does this for a living be wrong?  Well most certainly not in his mind anyway.

I’m going to give you my reasons why I end using detectors with the Iron ID or Discrimination features and I’ll even go into detail of using both the traditional VLF’s and the more robust Pulse Induction power detectors.  I’m not an Expert and I do not do this for a living (well I do not hunt gold for a living), but I do sell detectors as my full time job.  So since I’m not an Official Full Time Prospecting Expert, does that mean the knowledge I have of various detectors not count?  That is to be debated down the road.  I will say this though and those who know me for many years know I can back up my words with the amount of gold and the sizes of gold I have recovered. 

1^st off,  when you are out there detecting, I want you to do what you are most comfortable with and what has provided you success on previous trips.  I’m not here to make you change your ways.  In fact, those of you who are just as happy with your results and not using DISC., I totally understand you are not about to change your ways.  That’s totally fine with me…I’m happy for you. It’s the rest of the folks who are newer to the game of Electronic Prospecting for gold and or even those who are experienced hunters that have decent success…but you are wise enough to realize at times ..just maybe there is a better way at doing it?  This article is for those folks.

The average guy who goes detecting a few times at the same locations with a little jingle in the pouch.  Your success at those sites tell, you’re doing it correctly so you’re quite pleased, happy and not willing to change your ways of thinking or doing things.  I’m fine and happy for you.  But, sorry that is not me. 

I’m all about Adventure and Travel with detectors in hand.  I enjoy new detector technologies and trying to find ways to make them perform better for the task.  I like gold and the varieties of gold I pursue is quite varied when compared to many other folks who chase it.  I don’t know if it’s because of my knowledge and skill level of gold detecting or just that others are stuck in a pattern and don’t know any difference?

My travels in pursuit of gold have guided me to more states than most (NV, OR, ID, MT, SD, WY, AZ, AK) 8 to be exact and 2 different countries (Australia and Mexico).  I’m not counting gold jewelry and coins/artifacts (my list would be much larger), just natural Au gold in it’s raw form.  All the states and countries I mentioned, I have had success with my metal detectors.  In fact, I have yet to hunt a state and not find gold with a detector.  CA, CO and UT will eventually get checked off my list.

OK, back to the Discrimination/Iron ID discussion and why I want it on my detector tools.  Why I feel DISC and Iron ID are of desired features on a metal detector and there are many times when they need to be used.

Those features save me time and energy.  Both Time and Energy are something I desire more and more each year and seem to get less and less of.  A detector with the features of DISC and Iron ID can save me Time and Energy when digging.  When I use a detector with such features, I get to SELECT the amount of targets I want to dig. 

Here is a typical situation I experience many times in my hunts.  I hunt gold where gold has been found and I like to detect in such sites.  Here are the main sites I prefer to hunt and use DISC and or ID machine.  Old hand placer workings, Ore dump piles, and Dredge Trailing Piles. These golden grounds were proven producers at one time and they leave plenty of targets for us. 

Old hand placer workings (6 pics below of Au digs using PI DD coils with DISC or VLF's with VDI Readout)  In OR, NV, ID, MT, and SD. The problem is most of the targets are trash and many of the trash items are man made iron.  My DISC and Iron ID capable detectors save me time/energy in these gold rich locations.  Using common math to show.   How many times will that person dig in an hour?  How many hours a day will that person hunt?  How many days on that trip will they swing the detector and dig targets?  Let’s say a person can dig 10 targets an hour and 6 hrs a day = 60 targets for the day.  On average, average site produces 15 non ferrous targets and 45 iron targets.  So of the 15 non ferrous targets, lets say 20% are gold (3 pieces of gold) of the 15 nonferrous targets and of the total 60 digs.  In Eastern Oregon those numbers are pretty close.  Here is where I like the ID.  I can save Time and Energy by not having to dig 45 iron targets.  I now am digging more non ferrous targets than the average guy  so my gold count goes up.  Say I saved T&E on those 45 iron targets so I still get the 15 Nonferrous, but the extra T&E allows me to dig 15 to 25 (not 45) more targets that are Nonferrous.  I’ll be extremely on the cautionary side and say I only dug 15 more NF targets.  That ends up 2X my gold count for the day and also still saved me T&E.  Plus as well all know, the extra boost of finding more gold seems to earn me a little more Energy.

Ore Dump/Hardrock Piles- (5 pics of success using VLF's & their Identification systems) Many areas I hunt in NV, ID, MT, OR and I’ve seen many in AZ have such hard rock ore dumps.  Do you know the preferred detector for this kind of gold?  Do you know if you take a target identification VLF and use it at such sites, you can recover more desired nonferrous targets.  I select only certain VLF type detectors for these sites.  Iron ID is nice and if that is all I have then most certainly, I use it.  But I know (from previous testing) that certainly VLF gold capable detectors can go a step farther and provide me with even greater odds of Success at gold and saving me T & E.

Dredge Tailing Piles – (8 pics of gold using VLF's & their ID features) Love hunting these locations and my success in Tailing Piles of ID, OR, AK, NV is golden.  Some of my largest gold recoveries are from such piles and the funny part is most all of them were recovered with VLF detectors using Iron Discrimination.  Why you ask?  Because in dredge tailing piles, even a VLF detector can pick up a rail tie spike at 12” down.  Even a VLF can hear a rusty prospectors tobacco tin or smashed sardine can at near a foot and a half deep.  Even a VLF detector can hear at depths of 2 feet down for a rusty grease bucket or lid to a 55 gallon drum.  How about the 55 gal drum itself…well I know for a fact some VLF detectors will respond pushing near 4 feet down.  Are you man enough to dig those monster holes in loose rocks and gravel?  If you have never attempted it, good luck.  The material you are digging keeps caving in as you go down and the next thing you know…after 45 minutes, you have a 4 foot wide and 3 foot deep hole.  Only another foot more to go.  Oh those days…can kill an old mans ego for the whole trips…I’ve seen it happen.

As you can see from the Success pictures, the ability to use Iron ID on Pulse Induction & VLF detectors has proved golden. Now, taking today's newer Identification ID machines a step further saves me much time on pursuing only the best and most probably signals to dig.  No, there’s no magic to it, but I’ve learned a lot more than most about different kinds of gold and how it reads on these ID machines.  So many of the sites I currently hunt, the bigger solid nuggets are gone and have been for 10+ yrs.  But there’s still some of that specimen stuff the older technologies missed. 

Sites I enjoy detecting are the trash areas most others try for an hour or 2 and then they walk away is discuss.  They’re tired of digging holes and finding iron nails, boot tacks and shovel heads.  Sure, I dig a few of those shovel heads, but not as many as most others do.  I’ve spent the time in the field and learned.  I’ve purchased most of the newer technologies and tested/compared each to see how they stand.  No one detector does it all, but I know this.  I quality PI and a new technology VLF sure does cover most bases.  After all, I can tell you with fact, that the last 5 yrs, my gold finds are better than most and the majority were recovered using my techniques in the locations I mentioned.  It’s hard to beat what works and puts the gold in the safe.

Knowing where and how varying gold finds register on your VLF detector is crucial.  Here’s an example of what most folks encounter when in the field at an old gold producing site.  Ore dump piles, are full of rail tie spikes and blasting caps.  Also seems to be a beacon for lead bullets of a variety, but usually .22 and 9MM slugs.  Many of my gold recoveries from these sites, the newest of VLF gold detectors can ID the difference between such targets. Also, the majority of gold specimens in a certain pile, seems to ID the same #’s or very close to it.  Yes it does take practice and time to learn, but in the end, you have knowledge to be selective and save time/energy.

Hand working placer digs has a bigger variety of trash items and one some of my locations, the gold is thicker, more dense and reads different.  I usually use VLF ID’s to help identify and ignore the high conductor targets while concentrating on the lower ones.  Most gold (not all) will read in the low to possibly medium range.  Even using a Pulse Induction detector with Iron DISC is possible and quite rewarding.

Dredge Tailing piles are a lot like hand placer workings, but they provide even a bigger variety of trash.  These piles are the hardest to learn and use a PI detector.  I prefer a VLF for most of the tailing pile hunts I do, as the machine itself is much lighter and easier to swing on side hills all day.  Besides I don’t want to dig 2’ or 3’ deep holes and those occasional 4’ ones will practically kill you.  On the rare occasion there is big thicker gold (Ganes Creek, AK).   I recommend if you swing a PI, you better have a quality VLF detector handy to help ID as you dig.

So many varieties of gold and the areas, terrains and methods they were minded in the US.  Australia and other countries of the gold bearing regions are different and those of you from there may not see any use in my techniques and style of hunting or the detectors I use.  That’s totally understandable and I have no issues.  But if you do have hard rock ore dumps and hand placer workings with trash, it might be worth the time to swing PI and DD coil or a VLF with good target identification.

I look forward to hearing from those who use my techniques and I also want to hear from others who might have things to add.  What is most important about this post and discussion is the actual discussion and sharing of knowledge.  After all, that’s why were on here right?

Thanks for your input and reading.