dgatleyDP

None bought in 2018, however I did buy the ML Gold Monster in 2017 for lots of reasons, to compliment the ML GPZ 7000(2016) for a Nome Alaska gold trip, satisfying my desire to have at least two quality detectors up there. I’ve owned a long list of detectors since the mid-80’s, but reached a point around 2010, when I decided I had to ‘get serious’ about the pursuit of gold due to my advancing age. The newer machines were a big jump over those I’d been using, and when the ZED finally came out, it was time to ‘settle’ on one powerful machine that elevated my abilities to recover this elusive metal, and then to learn it well. I sold all the other detectors to afford the ZED - and not sorry at all. You can only swing one-at-a-time. The GM1000 however, VLF, discrimination, waterproof, offered a simple, light, packs really tight, and incredibly efficient detector to prospect new target areas, to find any shallow gold and indicate when to bring out the ZED for deeper targets. (BTW - Shortened, the GM makes a terrific & quick pin-pointer with its small disc.) All that said - these two machines are dedicated gold machines, and frankly suck as coin type machines. Living in So. Cal, the beaches are very inviting, and the new NOX 800, may well round out my tools..... unless something even better comes out very soon. Before the end of 2018? Unsure..... ⛏?

Norm, That's a nice collection of "indicators". Your collection mirrors my 'finds" during the many visits to the foothills of Rye Patch, including the gold. Optically clear, fully terminated quartz crystals, plus the Iron Pyrite (AKA Fool's Gold) in their cubic form of, are both prevalent minerals to be found in gold baring areas. They are just some of the indicators in new areas, much as Norm has indicated. Happy hunting out there!

Nice cracks and crevices too!

Great Winter, I’d say - kudos once again! Very nice haul for anyone as dedicated as you are. As Phoenix said - we’ll done.

I know, I know....... It’s that you took the shot and I didn’t - right?

The Lunker did it again! Kudos & Congrats! When I grow up, I wanna be like you! (My guess is that’d take more time than I have left though.)

44 total - congrats

Way to go. Who else but one of the best in the West. Nice finds my friend. D

Arizona goodies...... sweet! Kudos

Just missed it by doing a WSPA meet So. of Tucson.. Stopped by Q, and it appeared they were gearing up for it. Is this type event a good place to sell your gold?

I can only speak personally: With a partial Left Knee, and with the most sensitive of modern detectors - the GPZ with the 14”coil, there has never been any noticible affects. Shoes, with metal eyes, or such - yes, partial knee, no. I was very concerned beforehand, but in almost two years of detecting - no issues, and decent gold. The GM1000 is also unaffected. Good hunting up there. Dave

Seven of these smaller ones were found with the GM1000 but not on bedrock. The four larger ones were with the GPZ7000 - all found in the same general area within days of each other. The GM was using the 5” round Disk - and small gold is definitely it’s specialty. The area had been pounded to death for years, but these smaller fellas seemed to escape prior capture. So yes, the GM should see it if it’s there, and if it’s deeper (or shallow), so will the ZED. You’ll love the GM, swing low and swing slow.

Written by a master.... When's the book coming out. Happy New Year, and keep 'em coming. D

Condor, thanks for speaking frankly about it.... because, you are right. Baja is a wonderfully beautiful place, some absolutely terrific people, but the narco economy has changed things for the worse, and without being able to “pack”, you have very little protection against the bad guys there except having extra buddies. I’ve been all over Baja, almost as long as you. The mining areas have become dicey locations more than ever. So, brave as you may be, watch yourselves. There’s a lot of gold down there, but it’s not worth you life, and we’d miss your post’s

WTG Condor! Not to be a “downer”, but isn’t it a bit dicey with bandito’s down South there? And/or Federalize? I’d love to go there, but having run their gauntlets before, I’ve chickened out on the caution side. You risk it just camping in the wild anymore - in Baja, certainly in the AU areas..... Y/N? Packing the prospecting stuff is like painting a red flag on your tush. IMHO

My same conscerns applied to my choice to operate. I had a partial knee replacement several years ago, and no sensitivity issues discovered with my ZED. After being warned about metal eyelets on my shoes affecting the then new GPZ 7000 on sweeps, I was similarly concerned about my knee doing such. I can only say that I can’t find any difference, EXCEPT having to kneel down while digging those tunnels to China on deep targets. I’d waited too long, IMHO, to have the knee operated on, and believe the lower leg muscles attrified a bit by my ‘favoring’ them. It’s getting better, but still not a fan of the deep targets - EXCEPT, they usually produce AU. That said, traveling through TSA security check points at airports, usually means hand-wanding and a ‘feel-up’ job to clear security.

Nice finds! You and Lunk are human vacuum cleaners at Rye Patch - kudos.

Early Christmas????? We'll be waiting for your insider knowledge and reviews of the newly revealed (by ML Streaming) - Equinox 800. Sounds like ML is trying to "sock it" to the VLF market with some remarkable variants in that market area: GM1000; Equinox 600 & 800. Dave

Glad you're OK, but how is the ZED?

As usual, you do a terrific review, and thereby pose an interesting question that has plagued me for a coming trip to Alaska where I'm torn about bringing a second detector. you stated: "The big advantage in my opinion comes in leveraging the 10" coil and superb ground tracking to cover highly mineralized variable ground. The kind of ground where a Gold Bug 2 would require constant ground adjustments, and yet at the same time having more sensitivity than something like a Gold Bug Pro." Alaska vs the 7000 (particularly the Nome inland area) - where "variable ground" conditions rule.... Do you think the the GM1000 might work as effectively, or possibly better than the GPZ7000? You have far more knowledge of the ground conditions in AK than I, so i lean on that experience in this question. Thanks Steve, for the excellent job you do with this site!

The first was the White's V-Sat Gold Master, FT 16000, later the X-TERRA 705, and started getting more serious about it all - jumped in with the Garrett ATX, CTX 3030, GPX 5000, SDC 2300, and current the GPZ 7000. Now I need more TIME!!!!

Keith, I know from what few conversations we've had, that Smokey was a very close friend of yours. I am only sorry I never got to meet the gentleman, because I could hear it in your voice - that respect you had for him. Smokey was a legend there in Northern Nevada, certainly the Rye Flats area as I've run into others that have known him also, and related some of his stories. I only wish I could have met him and gotten to know him as you and others had. Thank you for sharing his poetry with us, and his photos. Take care, and best. Dave

DDancer, Sometimes i feel i travel for a living, but nor really, it's just a major component of the work i do. Your advise has not, as you noted, been treated in the forums I read. But i have to say it is very cogent, particularly for the newbie traveler to certainly Australia. I travel much of the world, and photo gear is my item to protect, particularly the 'prime component' of a kit.... All that you address is really great advise, although I might add that I also ad, attached to each bag/luggage piece, an itinerary tag (I use a label making software) that shows the dates, the flight numbers, the departure airport and the destination airports (both ways on a RT, or multi-ports)(I use the airport-codes (like DUI for Dublin, Ireland)(or DRW for Darwin, Australia) - You can look them up under Airline Codes, and your destinations). Further, I always include on that same label - my home/office address, AND my contact numbers; cell and land-line #'s. Zip-tie the label to your bag, and a strip of shipping tape(clear) taped over the info helps too. The point is, I've had luggage go astray, but as you say - usually it is returned to wherever I'm staying. Taking photos of it by your phone is best, filing out the claims form is essential once you know it/they have not arrived on your flight. The way you've advised packing prospecting gear is perfect for the un-initiated, and I'm glad you've passed on you experiences and knowledge.... Traveling challenges has become an 'art form', and something that has to be taken very serious if you value what you have, and don't want a trip derailed. May all your targets be golden! Dave

Any $$$ figures being floated yet?

Please, please, be at least as good as the GB2.