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Jim Hemmingway

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  1. Fully agree with you Simon, I have always appreciated Garrett's videos and sales literature for many years. I find the videos informative and easy to understand. Technically, of course, you are correct insofar as not too many years ago this new unit's capabilities would have been available only in a "top of the line" unit. In fact, I rather like the notion of purchasing one for each of my grandsons to beachcomb our innumerable freshwater public beaches, lots of fun when on vacation. You never know just what you'll find. Thanks for posting the video......................... Jim.
  2. Thanks Simon for remembering my posting issues. Currently I'm using my wife's tablet, it works fine but I wish my aging computer would work properly. No doubt I would more actively participate here if it were possible to type on a keyboard instead of one letter at a time using my index finger. My computer allows me to do a basic "like" but that's it. I cannot do a message. I cannot even open TreasureNet. Currently using Chrome. The easy solution is to replace it, but I do enjoy using it for music, photography, and extensive writing about a wonderful hobby that has provided me with a lifetime of memorable adventures and numerous friendships / acquaintances. I'd dislike to abandon the old thing... reminds me of the wife, but the old girl is a bit more reliable. šŸ™‚ Jim.
  3. I think you are doing well F350. Yes, we experience both productive and not-so-productive field excursions, but nonetheless, I feel that your persistence, enterprise, and effort in the field will pay dividends over the long haul. All the very best next time out. šŸ™‚ Jim.
  4. Nice relics and older coins F350!!! That is a very good afternoon's hunt, and silver....especially old silver dating back to a time when Daniel Boone was settling in Kentucky... is always welcome. This made a very interesting read and your photos are excellent. šŸ™‚ Thank you... Jim.
  5. Thanks for posting the tailgate conversation Simon, thoroughly enjoyed it. I felt very comfortable with how it was presented, and listening to sensible, experienced comments. šŸ™‚ Perhaps periodic tailgate discussions about a variety of detector-prospector topics might serve as a beneficial format for future presentations. It might prove very popular with both newcomers and experienced hobbyists. PS: Finally able to post again Simon. Thanks for your much earlier message... doing just fine. Jim.
  6. Nice description and photo about your most recent outing Jeff. Of course, you are familiar with an old saying that I view as an axiom......."when wheaties are here, silver is near". And it held true in this instance. šŸ™‚ Congratulations on some quality recoveries!!! Jim.
  7. We'll done Jeff, especially at this time of the year!!!šŸ™‚ Kudos to you for those dandy recoveries while enduring the north winds. All the best.............Jim.
  8. I'm with Simon... that is a real handful of handsome gold!!! Looks to have been a wonderful and highly successful adventure to a ruggedly scenic area. We always thoroughly enjoy your presentations Peg, and the photos are outstanding. Thank you for sharing your trip with us. ā˜ŗļø Jim.
  9. Hi dogodogā€¦ an interesting topic, with some unusual recoveries described below. For several decades now, our autumns have been occupied with prospecting for native silver and other commonplace minerals throughout northeastern Ontario. A few years ago, I found a specimen grade 101-lb native silver-calcite ore while metal detecting with a Fisher F75 metal detector equipped with a standard 11-inch DD coil. I almost ignored the shallow, blaring signal, initially thinking it would probably be shallow rusted ferrous sheeting or a very large pipe or implement. However the target ID and fastgrab readouts did not indicate ferrous material, so the signal was dug. The result provided me a few exciting moments as can be imagined. I was never so pleased when finally I got it out of the bush and into my truck. I donā€™t have a decent photo of it, mainly because it is about two feet in length, and nearly impossible to get close enough to properly identify what is silver and what is calcite. But Iā€™ll post what I have, and include a ā€œgroupā€ photo that includes a few other larger finds, plus a close-up shot depicted further below that allows the reader to see the silver in good detail. The ā€˜close-upā€™ photo below provides a better look at the silver by using my older cameraā€™s optical zoom feature. The rock is inundated with thick coarse silver that protrudes from about an inch on down to the tiniest veinlets and horns. The vein material travels completely through and around the rock. Other than one narrow section on the reverse side, there is nowhere to place your finger without it resting on silver. Checking it with a multimeter, there are no pair of silver contacts on this rock that are not electrically connected. Thanks again for an interesting topicā€¦. Jim.
  10. Excellent results Norm, congratulations are certainly in order!!! Many coin hunters consider it an axiom that when wheaties are here then silver is near. Good luck with any further detecting excursions to that site....... Jim.
  11. Beautiful silver finds Againstmywill!!! The ring is rather ornate and obviously in very good condition too, but the first item tugged at my heartstrings because it reminds me of a song we once sang to our children when they were infants as we danced with them around the dining room... ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM we're going to the moon, If you want to make this trip... Climb aboard my rocket ship, ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM we're going to the moon!!! Thanks for sharing with us............ Jim.
  12. HO ! HO ! HO ! In keeping with the holiday spirit, a very Merry Christmas to you, and all the very best in the forthcoming New Year!!! Thanks for the tremendous amount of effort that comprises your contributions to this forum and elsewhere. ā˜ŗļø Jim.
  13. Hi Normā€¦ very attractive ā€œcharacterā€ nuggets, excellent recoveries. In his above post, Simon notes that an earlier detectorist certainly missed an opportunity. Fortunately your more thorough fieldcraft techniques did not allow that same opportunity to slip away. Thanks for the reminder to recheck our coil coverage, and always to scan around the rims of holes and adjacent areas as well. It pays to be thorough in all aspects of our fieldwork, to carefully examine all abandoned digsite areas, and identify all target signals. Congratulations Norm and thank you for sharing your adventure with us. I think that instructive, well-illustrated forum posts are a key element to attracting newcomers to the hobby, so kudos to you, and WTG!!! Jim.
  14. Hi Bear... thanks for dropping by with your comments, most kind of you to do so!!! I wish that I could provide a placer silver photo, but unfortunately in this area our metalliferous silver recoveries are in the form of float silver or hardrock native silver. As a substitution, below is a photo of a rather plain silver nugget. It's not ideal of course, but it is about as close as I can provide at the moment. Hopefully you might be able to find some in your area that would undoubtedly interest many readers. All the very best, and good hunting!!! Jim.
  15. Hi Glenn... thanks for your comments, its nice to have this opportunity to speak with you!!! Taking your last question first Glenn, yes this area produces fine examples of wire silver. I might add that wire silver is often in close association with acanthite. I have not enjoyed much luck with finding it in any appreciable size, but have seen many examples from friends in the area, such as the one below compliments of Dr. Jim Eckert. Below are some examples of dendritic silver, including an enlargement of the dendritic silver example portrayed in the article's multi-photo because it illustrates dendritic structure quite well. The others serve as additional examples, the outstanding "fern" silver slab is from the personal collection of Dr. Jim Eckert with thanks....................... Jim.
  16. Hi Bob... thanks...so pleased to hear from you!!! Your comments are most kind. I don't know how much more silver hunting we'll accomplish for awhile. As you know, my interests have been leaning more to to non-metallic minerals in the renowned Bancroft vicinity. In fact we're heading north (hopefully) sometime later this week. I'd like to find some larger examples of tremolite, apatite, and titanite that will take a decent photo. With any luck and some determined fieldwork, I think we might be able to produce a different type of article later in the season. Over the interim, I hope that you will be able to post a little about your pursuits this past season, there is no doubt that others would enjoy viewing some of your mineral recoveries. Trust you had a good season, and that all is well with you and the family.......................... Jim.
  17. Simon... we've always realized how very fortunate we have been to reside within reasonably accessible distance to northeastern Ontario's silverfields. A wonderful opportunity to fill our lives with countless adventures, and we enjoyed every moment there. Below are two more examples of silver minerals, in keeping with the thread topic. Both happen to be white backgrounds because we've learned that it depicts native silver and acanthite nearly as realistically as these samples appear on my shelves. As to size, the acanthite dominant sample immediately below is about equal to a large man's fist, perhaps a bit larger.................... Jim.
  18. Thanks Simon... for those kind words of encouragement. We should keep in mind that silver in this area is normally quite large compared to gold, with recoveries generally ranging from several ounces to multiple pounds. This factor permits us to use our older, modestly deepseeking PI units with reasonable success because our larger silver can be detected to much greater depths. .................. Jim.
  19. Collecting Native Silver & Related Minerals in Northeastern Ontarioā€™s Silverfields Introductionā€¦ Iā€™ve been cleaning and photographing some small native silver specimens that were found with a metal detector during my last few rockhounding visits to the silverfields of northeastern Ontario. They are commonplace examples of small silver that hobbyists can anticipate recovering from the tailing disposal areas of abandoned minesites, ranging in size from one-half to several troy ounces. The information and silver photos presented below may interest newcomers to the fascinating hobby of rock, gem and mineral collecting, particularly for those who have reasonable access to collecting sites for native silver and associated minerals such as the example displayed below. It is comprised primarily of rich, dendritic acanthite with some minor inclusions of native silver visible on the surface. Searching for Small Silverā€¦ When selecting an appropriate prospecting-capable metal detector for this application, consider the field conditions where you will be operating it. A large portion of your time will involve searching abandoned minesite tailing disposal areas because these sites offer you the best opportunity to find native silver and related minerals. (a) At many sites ferromagnetic susceptible substrates can be characterized as ranging from light to moderate, and will have little effect on a VLF detectorā€™s ability to function effectively. But some areas, for example diabase dominant substrates, exhibit more elevated magnetic susceptibilities that to some extent will reduce a VLF metal detectorā€™s detection depth and sensitivity, target ID accuracy, and discrimination reliability. The effects of harsh ground mineralization can be somewhat mitigated by operating a VLF metal detector in a true motion all-metal mode to maximize detection depth and sensitivity to targets. A smaller / DD coil will reduce the ground mineral footprint scanned by the detector, permitting the use of higher gain / sensitivity levels than would otherwise be possible. Regardless of target ID or the absence of it, ensure that all weak signals are investigated until the source is identified. An obvious alternative strategy to improve detection depth is to use a suitable PI detector for searching more difficult ferromagnetic ground mineral areas. A more recent Minelab PI model will ensure the best possible detection depth over such ground. (b) Consider the most frequent size of the silver you can expect to find with a metal detector. The small silver depicted in the accompanying photos is representative, and as noted above, range from about one-half to several troy ounces. They are typically larger coin-size targets detectable to very good depths, but keep in mind when choosing a suitable prospecting-capable VLF detector that most small silver is low conductive, and on average is characterized by a nickel target ID. (c) In some areas conductive pyrrhotite hotrocks are a real nuisance to both VLF and to PI detectors. Abundant pyrrhotite can render specific sites unsuitable for metal detecting. Target ID ranges from iron to low foil, with most pyrrhotite signals eliminated by upper iron range discrimination. My PI units, the Garrett Infinium and Whiteā€™s TDI Pro, both generate enticing low conductive signals to solidly structured pyrrhotite, and similar to small, low conductive native silver, pyrrhotite PI signals must be dug. (d) Mining country, and abandoned mining camps in particular, are littered with iron trash of all sizes and description. Small, low conductive iron signals can be eliminated with suitable VLF iron range discrimination, but most non-descript small iron produces low conductive signals from my PI units. Similar to pyrrhotite, our PI units cannot reliably distinguish low conductive silver from low conductive ferrous trash. All low conductive PI signals therefore must be dug, and to do so is prudent fieldcraft regardless which PI brand or model is utilized for this detector-prospecting application. Incidentally, the same observation largely applies to VLF target ID reliability over deeper, weak target signals in more difficult ferromagnetic substrate conditions. Such signals tend to produce questionable readouts that either frequent or reside within the iron target ID range. To have any confidence in VLF target ID, it is necessary to remove surface material from deeper target signals until a reasonably strong VLF detection signal can be obtained. If any doubt about target ID remains, dig it to be absolutely certain of its identity. By comparison to low conductive iron, big compact iron such as larger drill bits and milling balls, and sizeable elongated iron such as broken pipes and implements, rail spikes, and drill rods tend to VLF target ID in the non-ferrous range. My PI units produce high conductive signals to large compact iron. A similar response, usually a double low-high or single low-high-low signal, is produced as the coil is swept lengthwise on elongated iron, whereas low conductive signals are normally produced when the coil is swept across the length of such targets. With native silverā€™s variable conductive potential (variations in size, shape, purity, structure) quite capable of producing both high and low conductive PI signals, the foregoing explains why all PI signals should be identified. While a large portion of our fieldwork in the northeastern Ontario silverfields is more suitably addressed with VLF units, we frequently use a ground-balancing PI unit for general scanning over tough ferromagnetic substrates where ferrous trash levels are tolerable. In these conditions we employ larger coils to improve detection depth over what VLF units can achieve. Additionally, our PI units eliminate or reduce most non-conductive iron-mineralized hotrock signals in the area. Such signals can be a particular nuisance when searching diabase dominant substrates with a VLF unit. Our VLF preference is to use mid-operating frequency range detectors for this application. Mid-frequency units respond reasonably well to both high and low conductive silver, and to weaker signals produced by low conductive particulate and sponge silver. By comparison to high frequency units such as my Goldbug2 for example, they are less vulnerable to elevated ferromagnetic mineralizations, and see both higher conductive targets and larger targets at better depths. Incidentally, low operating frequency units work reasonably well, but are less sensitive to low conductives. We operate both the mid-frequency Whiteā€™s MXT and Fisher F75 for motion all-metal mode close-up scanning involved with removing surface material from hillslopes, trenching, sinking testholes, and for detecting excessively trashy areas requiring a discrimination mode, but there are other perfectly acceptable detectors that will perform well at these tasks. Your detector choice ideally should feature a target ID in a threshold-based motion all-metal mode, a discrimination mode, include a manually adjustable full range ground balance, a ā€œfastgrabā€ ground balance for convenience and to assist with target signal evaluation, and a selection of searchcoil types and sizes. Which type of metal detector is best suited for this application? We operate the PI and VLF units described above to deal with variable field conditions and objectives, but the VLFs do much of the fieldwork here. Newcomers should begin with a VLF unit that incorporates the features outlined above as a minimum. You may wish to supplement your stock coil with larger and smaller coils to increase your versatility in the field. Once you have gained some field experience with the conditions as described above, and generally have learned more about collecting silver minerals, you can make a more informed decision as to whether acquiring a suitable prospecting-capable PI unit is a viable choice to satisfy your objectives in the field. Where to Look for Silver & Other Mineralsā€¦ As a general principle regardless of the type of minerals one seeks, successful collecting invariably depends on knowing where to look and a willingness to do serious pick and shovel work. Surprisingly detailed information about where to search for many minerals is readily available online to hobby newcomers, with many collecting sites readily accessible by personal vehicle. On occasion, more remote sites or identified prospects will typically require a short hike. For example, extensive information about abandoned gold and silver mines can be accessed online, and many current government publications are available to interested hobbyists. My personal favorites include a series entitled Rocks and Minerals for the Collector authored by Ann P. Sabrina, in association with the Geological Survey of Canada. These publications supply practical, useful information pertaining to abandoned minesites throughout Canada. They provide road guides to accessible collecting locations, a brief history of a siteā€™s mining operations, normally include production numbers for more prominent minerals such as cobalt, lead, zinc, nickel, copper, silver and gold, and usually provide a comprehensive list of mineral occurrences for each site. For casual or recreational prospecting enthusiasts visiting this area with limited time to search for silver ores and nuggets, select abandoned sites that will more likely produce detectable native silver based on past production numbers. You can detect these sites with the certain knowledge that highgrade silver was inadvertently discarded to the tailing disposal and nearby areas, sometimes in considerable quantity. The probability of successfully recovering specimen grade silver is sharply improved compared to searching for outback silver float, obscure prospects, or low production sites. To improve the likelihood of finding silver, try to identify areas where valuable silver was handled and transported. For example, look for evidence of surface veins, shafts, and storage areas where silver was graded, moved, and sometimes inadvertently misplaced. There are many plainly visible field indications of former mine buildings, mill sites, ore transport routes and abandoned trails. While quantities of silver were frequently discarded to tailing disposal areas, keep in mind that some highgrade silver was unknowingly included with waste rock for road and other construction projects. Hobbyists have also detected large specimen grade silver that was occasionally lost to spills on steep embankments, washouts, or sharp bends along the transport routes of the time. Incidentally, we occasionally see examples of careless or halfhearted retrieval techniques when only a few more inches of digging in tough ground would have unearthed quality silver that produced unmistakably solid, tight non-ferrous target signals that could not be mistaken for iron trash. A general suggestion to newcomers is to be thorough in all aspects of your fieldwork, examine abandoned digsites, and dig all questionable target signals until the target is identified. Briefly About Acanthiteā€¦ As a related but slight diversion from the topic of searching for small native silver, depicted below is a small but massively structured example of acanthite / native silver recovered from the Kerr Lake area of northeastern Ontario. While selecting some reasonably photogenic small silver examples, I decided to include it here because valuable acanthite https://www.minfind.com/minsearch-10.html recoveries are a rather infrequent occurrence in my personal experience and therefore welcome additions to my collection. After some 30+ prospecting seasons, Iā€™ve never detected acanthite as a stand-alone mineral. My acanthite finds have always contained some detectable native silver. For those unfamiliar with this mineral, acanthite is a dark silver sulfide (Ag2S) approximately comprised of 87% silver and 13% sulfur. Smithsonian Rocks & Minerals describe it as the most important ore of silver. Much of the worldā€™s current silver demand is satisfied as a by-product from the refining of argentiferous (silver-bearing) galena. Galena, a lead sulfide, generally contains some small (< 1%) amount of silver in the form of microscopic acanthite inclusions as an impurity. Acanthite is occasionally misidentified as argentite by hobbyists, but the correct mineral classification when referring to silver sulfide (Ag2S) at room temperatures is acanthite. Both these silver minerals possess the same chemistry but different crystalline structures. Argentite forms in the cubic (aka isometric) system at temperatures above 177 degrees Centigrade (temperature slightly varies according to reference source). Below that temperature acanthite is the stable form of silver sulfide, and crystallizes in the monoclinic system (Smithsonian Rocks & Minerals 2012 American Edition, Eyewitness Rocks & Minerals 1992 American Edition, Wikipedia). The transformation of argentite to acanthite at lower temperatures often distorts the crystals to unrecognizable shapes, but some retain an overall cubic crystalline shape. Such crystals are called pseudomorphs (false shapes) because they are actually acanthite crystals in the shape of argentite crystals. Acanthite crystals frequently group together to form attractive dendritic (branching) structures embedded in light-hued carbonate rocks that range from rather intricate to massive. In the field, try to be visually alert to darker (typically sooty-black) acanthite that may be exposed while digging targets, trenching, or by chance encounters with recently exposed material. For example, the local township occasionally removes tons of tailings for road and other construction projects, resulting in fresh new surfaces for hobbyists to explore. Prominent Minerals Associated with Native Silverā€¦ Native silver, acanthite, pyrargyrite and proustite ruby silvers, stephanite, and other collectable silver minerals primarily occur in carbonate veins in association with gangue minerals such as quartz, chlorite, fluorite, barite, albite, hematite, magnetite and many other minerals related to relatively shallow epithermal deposits. Attractively structured native silver embedded in light-hued carbonates, or for example in association with other silver minerals such as acanthite and proustite, is highly valued by the mineral collecting community. For newcomers incidentally, structure refers to how the silver is formed, examples include massive or nuggety formations, plate, disseminate or particulate, sponge, highly crystalline, and various dendritic or branching patterns as illustrated by the native silver example in the multi-photo below. The native silver in this area is intimately associated with major cobalt-nickel arsenide deposits that include notables or collectibles such as safflorite, cobaltite, nickeline, and skutterudite. A number of these ores, typically arsenides and sulfides, produce perfectly good signals from VLF metal detectors. Solidly structured nickeline (aka niccolite), a nickel arsenide, is a fine example that can generate strong signals from both VLF and PI metal detectors. Moreover, it is not unusual for rockhounders to find surface examples of nickeline with its copper-green surface oxidation annabergite, and cobaltite displaying its pink-to-more infrequent reddish surface oxidation erythrite as depicted below. A wide variety of additional minerals can be collected from the mine dumps. These include more localized occurrences, for example, allargentum (silver antimonide), titanite (wedge-shaped, vitreous calcium titanium silicate formerly called sphene), native bismuth, chrysotile serpentine (asbestos), rutile (titanium oxide) and breithauptite (nickel antimonide), to more commonplace minerals such as sphalerite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, bornite, galena, marcasite, iron pyrite, and so forth. A Final Wordā€¦ In closing we should point out to interested readers that there has been a resurgence in active exploration for both diamonds and cobaltite minerals in the northeastern Ontario silverfields. The existence of diamonds has been widely known for years, and historically there has been a strong industrial demand for cobaltite for hardening steels and other alloys, paint, ceramic, and glass pigmentation, and in other various chemical manufacturing processes. Apparently now there is increased interest in cobaltite for the manufacture of batteries. Industrial demand notwithstanding, for many years cobaltite has also attracted hobbyists interested in recovering valuable crystals. I hope that both experienced mineral collectors and hobby newcomers have enjoyed reading about native silver and a few of the more prominent associated minerals in this area. Thanks for spending some time here, good luck with your rock and mineral collecting adventures, perhaps one day it will be our good luck to meet you in the field. Jim Hemmingway, October, 2019
  20. Thoroughly enjoyed the video Cal!!! Interesting assortment of recoveries, and appreciate your comments about the numerous relics, it's an educational experience each and every time I view your posts. Thanks Cal, looking forward to your next field adventure. ā˜ŗļø Jim.
  21. Hi Steve Hā€¦ and welcome to the forum. Thanks for sharing your recovery with us. I doubt that it is possible for us to resolve your question beyond determining whether it is comprised of metal or is a mineral such as pyrite briefly mentioned above. Your sample certainly has an iron pyrite ā€œappearanceā€ if we adopt a view that youā€™ve found a naturally occurring mineral. However as Steve points out above, pyrite normally does not react to a metal detector in the field, and certainly not a piece of that size at twelve inches depth. So if you metal detected this sample, and that is not absolutely clear from your post description, we can abandon any idea that this piece is iron pyrite. But if it was not found with a metal detector, then widely occurring pyrite looks to be a satisfactory solution to your question. Frankly, more information about your sample is required for us to be more forthcoming. Jim.
  22. Hi Brianā€¦ and welcome to the forum!!! In addition to "no tide" you didnā€™t mention whether you are anticipating detecting small freshwater lakes with little or no wave action or larger lakes with wave action. So Iā€™ll address both scenarios to supplement what has already been said above. Success at the small lakes will depend on day-use bather numbers and on the type of bottom substrate. The bottom substrate could range from a hard clay or hardpack gravel bottom that will hold targets, to some combination of soft mud, silt and sand mixture that allows targets to quickly sink out of detection range. If the latter, and bather usage is reasonably high, you may need to detect these on a regular basis while the targets are still detectable. Try these sites and your experience will dictate whether they are worth your time and effort. Many freshwater pond and river ā€œswimholesā€ have been around a long time, and may or not see much present day usage. It could very well be a case of cleaning it out on a one-time basis and moving on to other productive sites. Again, your on-site experience will help you with that decision. We search generally larger lakes here in Ontario, that do have good wave action as a result of the prevailing winds and of course from summer heat that develops on-shore breezes. These factors facilitate the creation of a series of sandbank-trough-sandbank-troughs in the lakeshore shallows, sometimes extending out to shoulder depth, but that also conveniently run parallel to the shoreline. The sandbanks tend to be hardpacked such that small rings remain detectable for several days to several weeks, whereas coins and tokens typically remain within detection range for a much longer duration. The troughs are normally clay-gravel hardpack swept clean by water action, hence all targets remain detectable for many years subject of course to any sandbar movement over extended periods of time. We hunt these troughs routinely because theyā€™re wonderfully productive for gold and silver jewelry at high day-use beaches, and incidentally freshwater is much less aggressive with silver coins and jewelry than saltwater. Even nickels lost nearly a century ago surface looking quite presentable as per the photo below. Most of my jewelry finds are recovered in knee-to-shoulder deep water. Lakiesā€™ rings are more commonly found in shallow waters due to playing with their small children. Menā€™s rings are much more widely distributed. Sandbanks and the shallows are areas for throwing beachballs and frisbees, and other horseplay. The bottom substrate can play a role too, for example if there are rocky formations near or at the shoreline at a popular beach, those rocks are magnets for menā€™s wedding bands. Now just a word of caution. Stay alert to small storm drains and creeks entering unfamiliar beach areas where you search. Summer flows normally are quite low or non-existent, but immediately after storms or in the early spring these discharge points can be raging torrents that over many years may have hollowed-out quite a steeply-banked underwater channel running out into the lake. Perhaps no issue for bathers, but for a detectorist loaded-up with gear the channel slopes can trap and pull you quickly into deep water. Water hunting for coins and jewelry as pictured below can be very rewarding particularly if you have access to countless inviting freshwater beaches that exist here in Ontario. But all you need is one good, productive beach that gets a lot of day use bathers and you can return at regular intervals and do quite well. Good luck Brian, and please donā€™t forget to post about your adventures to this forum..................... Jim.
  23. Nice looking gold Peg, and outstanding photography. Thankyou for an interesting and altogether enjoyable read, you have a talent for capturing the essence of electronic prospecting in ruggedly beautiful wild places!!! Good luck with locating a productive nugget patch soonest. ā˜ŗļø Jim.
  24. Very nicely illustrated post that captures one's imagination Gerry!!! I called the wife to look over your many interesting finds. While not likely to be described as fine jewelry, nonetheless they do transport one's thoughts back a good ways in time. As Kac noted, she mentioned that it was probably either some type of crystal or perhaps simply cut glass. Nice teddybear and "best friend" charms that look to be in good condition. But best of all l like the pineapple ring!!! What a nice save!!! In any case, let's hope that diamond earring is in fact a genuine diamond. You never know, sometimes we can get an unexpected nice surprise!!! ā˜ŗļø Jim.
  25. Hi Jspirkoā€¦that's a real nice specimen you've got there. Now Iā€™m going to step out on a limb a bit and say that your sample looks to me to be a fine example of a granitic-textured, plutonic igneous rock called diorite. You may wish to read up about it and see if your rock does match as nicely as it appears in your photo. We come across diorite in northeastern Ontario. Its grain size is typical of other similar type rocks such as gabbro, granite and syenite. I tend to describe rocks as pegmatitic if the grain size generally exceeds about five millimeters. Diorite can vary somewhat in appearance, but as a course-grained intermediate intrusive (that is to say classified between felsic granite and mafic gabbro), it tends to be generally darker than granite. Diorite is typically comprised in an approximate ratio of two-thirds white, sodium-dominant plagioclase feldspar (oligoclase / andesine triclinics) to a third of amphibole such as a hornblende, or quite possibly as a biotite mica. Hence your sample has an attractive two-toned appearance similar to the example depicted below. Little or no quartz is present in diorite, otherwise we would refer to it as either a granodiorite or simply as granite just depending on how much quartz and alkali feldspar is present. As noted on the photo, you can see that my specimen possesses no ferromagnetic strength, but does ground balance to the same elevated non-conductive range as magnetite bearing rocks and other black minerals that we encounter in the field. At GB45 the rock generates a strong negative threshold signal, again similar to mafics that are comprised of heavier materials such as magnesium and ironā€¦ā€¦ā€¦ā€¦..Jim.
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