I think most of these are agates but the one on the left in the middle I am not sure what it is. It kind of looks like a flower. When I was out detecting I run in to these rocks. They seem different then most I see. Anybody know what the one on the left in the middle is? It's kind of white. And what are the rest?

I believe now I am leaning towards the Nox 800. There this not a lot of info about the ORX though I believe it to be a good machine.

Not my only, but my best day, and sure they are little but, it was exciting to me. Its gold!

I mostly hunt for gold in the winter in Arizona and could probably use another detector for that. In the summer months I have been wanting to hunt for treasures around my old farm house back in Michigan. I have tried in the past but, man there is a lot of trash! My monster 1000 loves Arizona but not Michigan or not a least around my house. I swear it was a trash dump at one time. Same with my SDC 2300. I am looking for a machine that might do both well, gold and treasures, if there is a detector like that. I have consider the Equinox and also the XP ORX but I might be missing something here. Maybe there are better/more to consider than just those two. Am I on track here or should I steer myself in another direction. 

jw………..thank you. Glad you put it in my language. Guess I will have to purchase one now or buy the GPZ that comes with one! I should of bought Fred's, then he could have showed me all his gold hunting places! 😀

Thanks again for all your trouble JW!!

24x7 My partners in life.

I am going to look into that Steve. Thanks

Prunt………..Thank You very much. I ware a 42 size pant so that harness may work, though it may be a little tight. I do appreciate you taking the time to share that information on all the harness. I really shouldn't of had to ask everyone. It should of been common knowledge in the Minelab specs.

one another note I found a 1/2" by 4 foot long bungy at the hardware store. I hook one end on my belt and throw the other over the shoulder and hooked it to my SDC 2300. I sure helped a hole lot! Took the weight off pretty well.

Thank you Kiwijw….That was very informative on how to use the harness.

The question remains what size is the hip belt? As many of these that are out there you would think someone could just measure one to answer that question. Is it 38", 40" 44" 50"? Smaller, Larger. No where have I seen this information.

Thanks Fred……..I am going to start by getting a hip stick and looking for some kind or harness. I will try to replicate what you have. You have been very helpful.

Phoenix…… I have worn many of them harness working as an electrician. I probably have one but its 2000 miles away from me now. All good ideas

1 hour ago, fredmason said:

I have adapted four different harnesses to my GPZ-was my GPZ....

My favorite was adapted from one that Arizonaoutback sold for a few years...I never liked the Minelab Harness because it was way to hot for me. However, I had one from a gpx so I cut and hacked and sewed until that worked-mostly I wanted the shoulder straps which provide excellent support...

If you make or increase the belt size be sure and buy the heavy-duty nylon belt...

I have weighed up to 220 and the standard length was getting pretty short...had to keep the belt under the belly, if you not so skinny guys know what I mean.

a hip stick and doc's bungee will put new life in your detecting....

fred

This pic was a year or so ago when I tried detecting with a dust mask to please my Doctor...that stayed on a about five minutes...total failure!

Fred…..I guess I don't understand. You use the hip stick with the minelab harness?

Reg…….I do agree with you. I am 68 years old. I bought the SDC 2300 in hopes I could swing it all day. I find myself pretty worn out after the first couple of hours and really lose interest in digging every target after that. All I can think about is dam my arm hurts! I thought I might try something to help bear the weight. I wanted the 7000 but thought I should try the 2 pound lighter sdc first.

I come to Arizona every year to hunt gold for 6 months. Night after night my arm is so sore from swinging that thing I can't hardly sleep. About 2 hours is all I can take. Lately I would have done just as well looking for those sun bakers. I can do that all day.

They need to make that GPZ 7000 as light as the Monster so us old guys can have some fun too. 

Minelab needs to make the Minelab Pro-swing 45 Harness in different sizes or at least have a hip extension belt. They must have the same engineers as the airlines do. 

I have been searching this site as well as others for one simple question and can't seem to find the answer. Will this harness fit fat guys. I mean I am 5'11 and 275 pounds. Will the hip straps adjust enough for us bigger guys? I would like to buy one as my arm has been taken a beating.

Yes…..I use the round 5" coil. I hunt until I find something or I find an area that has some signs of gold being found there before. Then I hunt that area inch by inch. Some times I rake a little and move the bigger rocks out of the way. Usually if I find one, there are more close by. It may take me hours/days to cover a few yards once I find one.  I found 2 more today. 

Arizona, in a beat to death wash……...

Thanks Steve…..it is a photo of each day. It's good just to come home with something.

You might try the SteelPhase sP01 Audio enhancer. It has different sound profiles on it. I have tinnitus real bad also with hearing loss. It helps me.

Phrunt….I understand all about the addiction. I found gold with my monster, but in another area. I have been using my sdc-2300 here and yet to break it in. Its frustrating because I have already proven I can find it, just not with the sdc-2300. It's not coming out of my hands until I do! It does not come much easier to use than the sdc-2300. Turn it on and go. If i can find bird shot, it is just a matter of time. 

Thanks for everyones help. I still have not found any gold this area, at least not detecting, but I hear others have. I found a little sampling here and there, but mostly fines to small flakes. The area has been hit hard, though I find old boot tacks, small bits of wire, screw, lead, bird shot so I assume there still some gold here. I will keep looking until it's time to head back to my home for the summer. There's alway next year. 

For the most part I have been detecting the benches above the washes, depression, gravel bars, rock intrusions. I think next time I go out I will try the sides of the washes. I am hunting just south of Wickenburg, Arizona. The area has a rich gold history but it also gets it share of traffic.

Thanks Steve. You and your attachments have been very helpful. I have a lot to learn. I have been detecting the area every day. Each time I go out I learn more and more about it. Now after reading some of your material I am armed with a little more understanding. Today maybe the day.

I have been having a real problem when going into a new area trying to decide were to detect. Washes from time to time I find a piece or two by turning over rocks and detecting in that spot, but for the most part, most of the gold is gone. I've tried detecting on the top of the washes with a little better results if the washes aren't to deep but some of these washes have sides that go up a long way and are difficult to detect. So now I have been looking for contact zone or at least as I think I understand them. I have attached a pic in and area I am detecting now and it seems overwhelming to me. Everything looks like contact zones. I know gold is coming out of this area but I am really struggling to find any. I could use a little help deciding how to detect this area. I have circle and area that seems like a contact zone but is it? I am constantly looking for different signs, fuggy quarts, iron, etc until it drives me nuts.

Here's a few more with the monster 1000.

Thanks Lunk.... I will look for him. I am starting to be more aware of all the gold ore sample rocks. I went to the place I asked you about. Got to be careful there or you could find yourself in the bottom of one of those deep mine holes. They were everywhere down that wash.