Relichunter

I have used Whites, Tesoro, and Minelab.................to me they are tools, just like any other tool that we buy in order to get a task or job done. I do have curiosities why for example Whites and Tesoro have not updated and produced some new detectors...to compete with Garret or Fisher who in my opinion have done a good job in R&D and have brought new products to us the consumers. Minelab I am extremely happy with because I do believe they have of all companies given us a true leap forward and given us the consumer a superior product. My 4500 has produced and continues too, so why would I BASH Minelab? They have given us a TOOL that produces more gold than their competitors. I have questioned and had my doubts about the GPZ ,but I don't own one, my opinion is based upon what I have read when it was first introduced. It appears that it produces and does a great job, is it worth 10 grand? Well it all depends on the individual. If your a full timer I am sure they would say yes, but if your a part timer perhaps a cheaper vlf is the answer for you. As we all know, regardless of price of your detector..its the effort and the individual that makes it happen, the detector alone won't make it happen. For now, I am sticking with my 4500, but that said...I can very well change my mind and become a ZEDHEAD. I don't think Minelab deserves that rating of #1 for being the most hated, they gave us the ability to be successful, the rest is up to us.

Sweet finds...now that's Gold !

For those of you who like me have been waiting and waiting for the new Makro Gold detector to come out, I have good news. I e-mailed them last week and they said within 1-2 months before they are available. I have been waiting for at least 6 months for this new vlf that is geared towards nugget-hunting. I was going to just say screw it and get a GB2 or another vlf for my trashy areas but decided I would just wait and hope its worth the wait. According to the rep at Makro he said this will be a top notch vlf, so I am glad I waited this long another 2 months will fly by.

Yup, Looks about right.... I have an endless supply of used backpacks I modify for my water bottles and battery. I find that a regular back pack works out for me as I do pack in the essentials ..just in case this or that. Great photos and great post! Fred

Nice story and sounds like a great outing....That Nokta detector sounds like its the cats meow for trashy area hunting. Great pictures and thanks for sharing ! Fred

Wow !!! Great story you had me right there....dirt, rocks and dust...the nugget is a beauty...congrats on your finds and success with the ZED....

Coota, Sounds like the ZED is a cut above the gpx in many instances, particularly in the smaller nugget and speci range. I am glad to hear the Coiltek Elite is a winner with many users....a coiltek elite /4500/5000 combo may not match the ZED , but for me it's going to have to be the upgrade for now.

Sounds like a great hunt, and very nice gold! "I also left another very faint Zed signal undug to compare the 4500/Elite combo on tiny gold." Did you ever go back and try the 4500 with the Elite coil on the ZED signal? If so what were the results of the new coil 4500 combo on the faint signal? Watched a video made by Bloodgold I believe on U-Tube and he and his mate were testing the ZED and 5000 with the Nuggetfinder 14" R Mono. Most of the faint ZED signals were heard by the 5000 with the 14" mono coil..the only difference as I recall was that the ZED was very stable in the mineralized soil, more so than the 5000. Regardless, I think for many of us a combo 14" Elite Coiltek with a GPX detector is the way to go.

Lets wait and see and watch the circus start. Reminds me of Mel Fisher and his discovery of the Atocha....took him 7 years to win his claim and a million dollars to defend it. In regards to the train and its loot stolen by the Nazis when they were escaping the Soviet advance...please remember what the Nazis did to the Russians as they had a policy of murder and burn , pillage as their advance went eastward ...stealing cultural treasures, and anything they can have their hands on. So if the items are found to be from Russian and proved, I am sure cultural representatives will negotiate the matter.

We forgot to mention, as I just got my new issue, Ray Mills also has a great article in the same issue, thanks Steve & Ray for your contribution to ICMJ. As an nuggethunter I do enjoy those articles most. Fred

sweet yellow......Oregon been good to you ...congrats!

Hard Prospector... It's a great point .....and we should all be aware of those laws. I have not hunted public lands in 2 years now......

Deathray, Now you got me motivated to find the tongue!! dude those are awesome finds....way to go. Mine has lines all around , it gives it a nice touch. It looks like you eagle tongue has them also. Thanks for sharing your pictures...I am going to head back next week and start searching....for gold and relics

"Lets see that tounge, relic!!" Deathray - here she is, its a stamped piece and not a heavy cast one. But still nice. Hopefully I will locate the other end of it...the tongue.

Nice to have a still producing patch to go to....nice nuggets.

Very nice.....love the dirt still on it....I hit my patches many times with all my coils...

That's what I am talking about....nothing is worked out..just gotta get down and dirty and go where no one wants to. I had another skunk day yesterday...6 hours of slope and heat. The worst part is the damned buck brush, manzanita, poison oak and the likes always in the way of a good sweep. The best part of searching for new patches is locating new diggins in heavy brush and treed areas. I got lucky yesterday,,located a cool buckle part a tongue holder of a two piece belt buckle. The rest was bits of iron and bullets....hopefully I find the other part of the buckle.

I am sure Poland will be very careful with who and what groups claim what. I am sure their are many groups biting at the bit to try and claim part or the whole of the find, if its found. News conference today regarding the lost train and its gold. Now, lets get the Vatican to return the gold they still hold from the Balkan States.....that was stolen by the puppet state of Croatia!!

"I spend the other day swing the ATX with the 20" coil (all day long) on a 60 degree slope in 102 degree temp." " think I was nugget hunting..... I don't know. I didn't find any." - Lipca Now I feel better knowing I am not the only one doing the very same as you !!! Looking for float and nuggets on a slope at a 100 degrees....and all I found was lead and trash...you gotta love it. The easy stuff may not be as common as it may have been in the past...but I still believe its available for those that work just a little harder. Todays forecast 100.....it will be a beautiful day ..

Who gets it, and how do you prove who took what from whom? If it's proven it came from Poland than it should go into the Polish Gold reserves and perhaps part of it should go to helping the people of Poland who need it most today. Per capita Poland lost more people do to the War than anyone. In time of war, its Chaos return the gold to Poland and its government if its found.

Nice specimen and picture...thanks for sharing. Those size nuggets do show them self once in a while.... just not to me....lately.

Expect the unexpected....arrogants can get us in major trouble. The world has changed, the problem is some of us are old enough to be aware of it and some to old to understand it. Best gold is the one you find....my bet is gold is on the rise and will continue through the end of the year. So keep beepin.............. otherwise who the heck knows whats coming....if you buy..buy low..

That's the OMG Nugget !!!! Wow.....

Nice nugget, and a 1.7 gram at 17 inches ...now that's dang good!!

That was a great story and pictures to go with it. Thanks for the time you took to share it with us all....nice nugget !!!