Aureous

Probably only 1 in 500 of us Oz prospectors have ever used a high frequency VLF, let alone own one. A friend told me that less than 10 of the 24k have ever been sold in Australia so far. Thats why I'm not letting the 'cat out of the bag' so much as yet. Ive left a lot out of the story so as not to create a rush lol

Just over 2 grams there, the ground conditions are mild and suit a high frequency VLF. With almost everyone using PI's here, the tiny targets are not heard at all. Maybe only 20% of these could be heard by an SDC2300. Even so, the soil isnt completely un-mineralized and the gain has to be left around 7 or sometimes 6. The XGB system and the coil current increase, coupled with that 6.5" concentric coil is all that was needed to get the gold flowing again 🙌

Yes, the key facts to recognize here, is that almost everyone in Oz uses PI's. This leaves all the tiny gold for me and a few others. Select ground that isnt terribly mineralized, and believe me, this isnt easy, and you have a huge number of targets to chase. I started using high frequency VLF's again after a break of several years using PI's exclusively. I got a shoulder injury which forced me to select a lightweight detector. I chose a Gold Bug 2 and since 2013, Ive found well over 5,000 bits of gold. The gold has started to dry up near me and so I trialed a Gold Monster but didnt really like it much. Now switched to a 24K and MAN!....what a machine for this type of work. I'm going over all the same ground like its new again.

Well, Ive now gotten 15 hours of use with the 24K and now have 45 bits of gold and well over 500 pieces of trash all on heavy-hit ground. I am finding lumpy, rounded bits of gold and lead shot at 3+ inches quite commonly. The depth increase over the older Whites Goldmasters and the Fisher Gold Bug 2 is now quite apparent. I really must drag myself away from the 6.5" concentric coil for a while to properly test the 10x5DD coil in some hotter ground.....one day, when the gold gets harder to find perhaps 😉

Jim, I run the 24K almost solely in fixed GB. Think I will take your advice and flatten the coil to the ground when searching my scoop contents. Doubtlessly it IS because of the XGB tracking as you say ☺️

A few little curious discoveries lately, the 24K is definitely a quirky machine. Its more stable and sharper on tiny signals when in locked GB, creates much poorer signal when you're trying to find said targets in your scoop and sometimes has a complete fit and wont ground balance after a loud signal. I have thrown away good targets because I didnt hear them in my scoop! Only by slowly bring the scoop towards the edge of the 6" concentric coil, can you confidently hear if you have the target...and even then its far quieter than in the ground. When the ground balance issue happens, I simply lock the GB and give it an instant ground grab.....solved! I'm currently at 26 bits of gold and approx 300 bits of trash, all off ground Ive hammered for the past 30 years. All in only 6 hours total. I am sold on this machine....love it!

Yes total waste of 5mm space....every serious detector prospector could use that 5mm to send the coil field deeper into the soil....so glad the 6" concentric is fully flat 😁

Jim, is the 6x4DD coil available yet for the 24K???

I've now used the 24K in the field for only 3.5 hours and although the gold is flowing, its all small bits on ground I've already flogged hard. But still fun finding a little bit every few minutes 😊 The iron discrim I haven't had an instance where I needed to change off factory settings yet. But that time will no doubt come one day. One thing I WILL say....that 6.5" concentric coil continues to surprise me with its ability to handle mineralized ground and its sensitivity. The threshold stays solid and hot rocks are easily cancelled out. 18 bits of gold and counting......

Mike, Ive used a 5" concentric prototype round coil on the GB2 and I am positive it would leave the GM1000 for dead if that coil was ever put on the market. Sadly, it was only a proof of concept coil and was gutted to trial a new design later. 😢

Ive had LL Chrondrites track out and thats only because the metal within them is so miniscule in size. H's never could (at least all of the ones Ive ever chased) as the metallic content is so significant. But, like you say Dave, know the terrain and the types of meteorite found there and if possible, use a local meteorite sample to tune your detector, wise advice. If the soil conditions are mild, there is zero requirement to run any detector in tracking anyway. Whenever possible, use a manual GB detector or just stay in fixed.

The metal in meteorites is usually Taenite or Kamacite, both Nickel/iron alloys. These will not be tracked out unless miniscule in size and at depth. Some (much rarer) meteorites are non or low metallic and can give a negative, hot-rock type response. A few Carbonaceous Chondrites and LL Chondrites fall into this category. Best bet is to be certain which area has what type of meteorite known already, and 'tune your ear' accordingly.

Soon as the weather cools down a little here, I'll be out buzzing every day with it. All on ground Ive hit hard before. No holds barred either, I'll say it like it is ☺️

The Monster has the edge in actual sensitivity and power, but the audio/signal processing lets it down. But its great in quiet ground. The 24K has the edge in smooth audio and ability in mineralized ground. The 24K is my go-to detector now and my monster is being disposed of. Even my Gold Bug 2 is semi retired now lol

I dont own an Equinox (but would like to), however I own both a GM1000 and a 24K. Out of ALL the VLF gold prospecting detectors out there, the GM1000 has the greatest power and ability to find small gold. BUT....and its a BIG BUT... the GM1000's audio and signal processing creates its own 'monster' in that if you use this detector with high sensitivity (where all the real power of the unit is exhibited) and you encounter ANY mineralization, the clicks, clucks, pops and farts that the machine makes can mask most/all of the signals you're trying to hear (except for those rare individuals who are able to master the nuances of the monsters audio). If you reduce the sensitivity or use Auto 1 or 2 (sensibly) you bring yourself back to a level of performance that is matched by the Gold Bug 2, GMT etc. Now, Ive used my new 24K for a few hours and quickly came to the conclusion that this high frequency VLF actually DOES have some new tech that is practical. For instance, Ive never used a round concentric coil with such a detector that wasnt utter crap before.....here in Oz, we have 'mild' ground that equates to 'Hot' ground in most other countries. Couple a concentric coil with high frequency and its completely unusable here. Not so with this 6.5" 24K coil. Its not far off the ability of the 10x5DD that is supplied. Yes, its a little noisier, but not much. Couple this with the great XGB ground tracking and fixed GB/grab, its quite promising. I can vouch for its performance and ability and the gold has already started flowing for me with it. My Gold Bug 2 has been retired for now and my GM1000 is being disposed of. I think that says it all....