Glenn in CO

What are the majority of collectors looking for?

I've asked that same question to collectors, dealers and museum directors and it comes down to what type of gold (nugget, specimen) and where the gold comes from is what a collector is seeking. The type of gold varies greatly from placer nuggets, crystalline in wire and leaf form, to how unique the gold nugget or specimen is. The consenses is the majority of collectors want to see "flash". That means seeing gold that has been cleaned to some part or all of the specimen or nugget and again it depends where and what type of gold it is, to how much and what type of cleaning should be done. There are some purist that wish to have the specimen or nugget in natural form, but I found that is a very small percentage. Cleaning specimen gold can vary greatly in leaving none, some or all of the host rock.

Cleaning gold, especially specimen gold is a art that is aquired through trial and error using different chemicals, acids and equipment. Cleaning specimen gold is like opening a Christmas present, you never know what is inside.

Here is some examples of gold that I've cleaned, partly cleaned and left natural:

Very nice!!

 

Can we see a picture of the armrest setup you have.... i really like the idea!

 

I use that same rake for when i am dry washing to get the big rocks out of my way...

Here is a couple photos. Armrest is from a detector and the handle is from a ski pole. I used 1/2" conduit and welded all together. If you like a close up, I will have to dig it out and take some photos.

The rake I use for tailing piles and mine dumps is a cultivator rake with a super magnet attached one end and a arm rest and handle the other end. I can move alot of dirt with this setup. The super magnet is your best friend and trashy areas.

White's E-9000 Koss Headphones

Good question. So far the smallest nugget (flake) I have actually found in the field with the GPZ weighs 1.7 grains (0.11 grams).

 

If the SDC will not pick it up I doubt the GPZ will. In my opinion the SDC has the edge over the GPZ on the tiniest stuff. The stuff I was finding was stuff the GMT missed specifically because it was big enough to signal on either the GPZ or GMT but too deep for the GMT to find.

What was the depth 1.7 grain found at?

Thanks! for providing a great forum.

What is the smallest weight in grains or grams will the GPZ find? The area where find both leaf, wire and sponge type gold on mine dumps and tailing piles a SDC, ATX, GPX or TDI will not pick up the wire gold, where as the GMT will pick up both wire and leaf specimens that are the same weight.

Both I and my wife do gold, coin and relic hunting since the late 1970's. For now we both have GMT Body mounts with standard coils, 4x6 coils, and Sierra Max coil and a TDI with a timing mod done by Reg with a 12" and 7.5 coil for gold. For coin and relic we both have V3i's with standard coils, 4x6 coils, 6x9 coils, 5.3 coils and Super 12" coils. We also have a MXT300, Coinmaster GT and Goldmaster 4 Body mount for backup machines. The TM808 for deep stuff. Waiting for summer to get here to head to the high country for another season of nugget hunting!

You stated PI had reached it's limits, knowing what you know about the 7000 do you think the ZVT technology has room to grow?

yes in some ways it is like going back and resetting the clock to the SD 2000, there certainly will be improvements and additions in the future, however the performance levels and what features may be included - I haven't the slightest idea and your guess is as good as mine.

Also, coils: whats the story with this detector and coils? Is there the potential for an aftermarket or is there anything like a chip that makes them Minelab only? Is there a limit to how slim an elliptical coil can be, does that main central winding need to be more or less round for some reason or another?

accessory coils are coming, however I don't think they're available right at this moment. As far as accessory  coils, that would be something I really couldn't answer.

How is it swinging this thing all day? Does the added weight bear down on a guy even with a harness and bungee? Having never used a CTX is the new form factor better at carrying the weight?

I did swing this detector around without any bungee for most the time I had it. It was a bit on the heavy side, but with the bungee it should be no problem. if you have to swing on hillsides and other steep areas where a bungee doesn't work so well then all I can tell you is it's kind of heavy but I was able to swing it.

For shallow stuff (small, spongy, crystalline, etc) how does the 7000 compare to a good VLF like the GMT or GB2? I know people won't like this question for a long list of reasons but it's inevitable so I'm asking.

the answer to this depends a lot on what kind of ground we are talking about. I have had my GB2 in places where you simply couldn't operate it because the ground was so noisy. I will assume you mean in ground that is mild where one can actually use a VLF easily - on the very very tiniest gold such as something less than half a grain then the VLF will probably have an advantage in very mild soil. However things of larger size it will punch down much, much deeper. I dug a piece of wiry mossy gold that weighs a little more than half an ounce after all the rock , iron oxides and other junk was removed and 18 inches. I would guess that my GB2 would not be able to see that more than about at 6 to perhaps 8 inches deep.

What if any discrimination capabilties does the GPZ 7000 has?

If hunting in mine dumps or tailing piles what would you suggest for a work around on ferrous targets?

I just found out the 2016 GMC Canyon will have a 2.8 liter diesel option .Sure wish Toyota had that option on the Tacoma, my favorite pickup truck? 

Check out the new Nissan Titan P/U with a Cummins engine.

http://www.nissanusa.com/trucks/2016-titan/

Here’s our rig, we find a spot to park our diesel truck and 24ft travel trailer for our base camp. Then we use the RZR to get around with our metal detectors, mining gear and whatever. Nice to have a UTV close by when hunting, especially when the weather turns bad. Plus getting from base camp to a prospecting area is a lot faster in a UTV than a full size 4x4 pickup and a lot less wear and tear. The RZR fits in the pickup bed when we are towing the travel trailer so we don’t have a large train traveling down the highway. It makes roughing it a little more bearable, especially for my wife.