GotAU?

Yup, that’s what I was implying as well. If you’re traveling anywhere off-road, especially when going solo, gotta think about and cover the “what if’s”!

It’s a cool looking van, but I am pretty sure you won’t be able to get it registered here in California. Have you looked at the 4wd Volkswagen Synchro Buses? They’re pricey but have some nice camper options. I wouldn’t take either of those types of vehicles as far in on a rugged off-road trail than it is safe to walk back to the highway though. Really should have a reliable vehicle built for that.

Welcome Giorgi! The two posts above are correct, but if you are going for a lot of different types of targets and want good junk iron discrimination, a multi-frequency VLF detector like a Equinox 800 or 900 would be very useful, especially around rivers, in the water, and elsewhere for relics and coins - at least to start out with. The 5000 has a lot of different settings and is not as easy to use and they are expensive to start out with. Good hunting!

Not only is ChatGPT a good writing tool, it is a pretty serious tool for coding- it writes Python and JavaScript that works. We are on the cusp of a new development like we faced in the 80’s with consumer personal computers, and it doesn’t take a Zultar to know the future of AI for us- it will be everywhere. Clay- have you tried it with Arcpy? (I’m assuming you use GIS) It really good at it and just needs minor edits…

There are some research papers online by some universities showing how they can make basic digital images using the audio signal strength from a standard detector, mainly for detection and identification of UXO and other large metal objects. They use a combination of GPS and a camera to precisely plot the position of the coil as it passes back and forth over a target. It results in a fairly crude image that can show the size and shape of an object, but I doubt you can use it to determine depth very well. https://www.ndt.net/article/ecndt2006/doc/Tu.4.5.4.pdf It was in the early stages, but here was an example of their imaging: keep in mind that it is like slow scan TV or dot matrix printing... one line at a time as you swing back and forth over the target. But the cool thing is it is a feasible technology with a basic machine, doable for consumer level use which would really help in places like Ukraine, where mines have been placed everywhere in the country.

There are units currently on the market that graph out targets based only on signal strength- they don’t even have GPS, they just prompt you when to take a step forward or to turn to make a grid while it records audio signal strength. The image it produces looks similar to the one the OP posted. As there may be no gps data or image scale with the file (not geolocated), it will probably need to processed manually to make it useful for mapping the features it shows- however it will not be very accurate if you had to do the step method to make it- an image file that has gps coordinates imbedded in it (a Geotiff) would be much more useful.

What machine was it and can you upload a image file of the output?

Ground penetrating radar is the only legitimate system that can do this. We used one on an archaeological survey a couple times, mainly to map out fire hearth’s and potential burials. Good info about it here: https://usradar.com/blog/how-deep-does-gpr-go/

But according to this BLM publication, a meteorite is not a claimable mineral and they are not subject to mining and mineral laws. Which is right? https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/uploads/MediaCenter_PublicRoom_Nevada_Meteorites1.pdf Ah- an already debated forum subject, but it seems that it’s really not a claimable mineral after all… I like the video you posted and the segment in it with the partying adults cheering the exploding meteor was funny. It reminded me of one of those apocalypse movies where everyone cheers for the firework show until the sky burns up and Godzilla appears.

Steve made a good point about Italian beaches. There must be pounds of gold in the sand there. Italians love jewelry, and a lot of it is high quality 18k gold, purer than a lot of natural gold nuggets. Even men there wear lots of it, and I remember my uncles all wore chains with gold horn pendants and at least one of them lost jewelry at the beach (my family there are mostly Napoletanos). If I were there, I’d definitely go to ocean and lake beaches and along any rivers or ponds where people like to swim.

ChatGPT is your friend! Where may I find gold nuggets in Italy? ChatGPT: Gold nuggets can be found in various regions of Italy, particularly in the northern part of the country. Here are a few locations where gold has been historically discovered: Val Chisone: Located in the Piedmont region, Val Chisone is known for its gold deposits. The area around the town of Pragelato has been a popular spot for gold prospecting. Valle Aurina: Situated in South Tyrol, Valle Aurina has a long history of gold mining. The streambeds and rivers in this area have been known to yield gold nuggets. Val Bodengo: Found in Lombardy, Val Bodengo is known for its gold-bearing rivers and streams. The area around the town of Piuro is particularly popular among gold prospectors. Val Grande National Park: Located in the Piedmont region, Val Grande National Park is known for its pristine wilderness and gold-bearing rivers. It's advisable to obtain proper permits and follow any regulations before prospecting in the park. When engaging in gold prospecting or any kind of mining activity, it is essential to obtain the necessary permits and follow local laws and regulations. Additionally, it's important to practice responsible and sustainable mining techniques and respect the environment.

Could be a fossil- many are filled in by silica, forming an agate and even opal. My first impression is it may be a jawbone of a mammal- will look it up in my old paleo books…

I assume you’re talking about the CT 10x5… I really like that coil. I got the 12x7 NF to try out against the 10x5, just waiting for the day to come when I can go use it!

Hey Drillerdave! Looking forward hearing how you do with that coil. I got mine a week ago from AZO - Chris has been a great help. @Swegin - I believe Chris is, he said he got a batch and my timing for getting on the list was good, but like the other dealers, I am not sure how long his list is now.

You are right, best way to compare them.

OK I’ll bite, what about that piece of string? Is it which end is longer?

No, it would stick it in its mouth and take a selfie with it!

I think you’re right about the battery. It happens so rarely that I have to wait until next time and see if there’s a loose battery. Thanks!

It probably was the battery- it’d shut off and restart by itself without having to push anything. Haven’t had the problem happen that often, so next time I will check the battery. It’s interesting that it keeps in the power on status when this happened and just rebooted… I haven’t noticed any blue screen on it though.. that’s a relief! 😉

-Simon, shutdowns? I had my original 11” replaced for ear cracking, but noticed my detector turn off and restart by itself occasionally with the new 11”. Is this what you meant? I thought perhaps it was a loose connector or something like that because it so seldomly happened. I guess I should inquire about getting it replaced under warranty again? Do you know where the reports came from about this issue? -Anthony

AI detector programs that help discern and interpret a signal would be nice, especially for people with hearing loss, and they would give beginners an edge. It’s possible to use a phone for this- with its built in GPS, signal processing and camera it could interpret and also map out coil swings and targets. This would also be a big thing for mine detection. You wouldn’t need a specialized detector either, just clamp on a downward facing smart phone onto your detector, connect via Bluetooth or attach it to the audio output, and go detecting. Ok, perhaps I better patent this…

Jim- are you using a flat cup like the one you gave me? Could spreading out the material to make it thinner in a cup vs concentrating it in a smaller area like in a scoop make a difference?

Mine are in two well known gold district here in Southern California. So I recently lent my detector to a buddy and he comes back from one of the places with color. I guess he must’ve fixed my detector because it wasn’t me, right?🤔

O-rings work pretty well for locking down the twist locks on the GPX 6000 shaft, but they don’t work perfectly and get really hard to unlock. So in trying to figure out a better way to go, I decided to try something much different. I don’t remember who first mentioned this, but using Detecting Innovations’ Glueless Clamps designed for Tele-Knox Shafts are a really great modification! High Plains Prospectors sells a set containing 2 clamps for $20, and they fit GPX 6000 shaft sections perfectly. For this modification, you have to cut off the two twist locks right up next to each one, and the best way I know to cut carbon fiber shaft tubes is with a basic diamond bladed tile saw so you don’t mess up the fibers. You don’t need water for it either. The shaft clamps work perfectly, and fit very well. You do not need to use glue or anything like that, they simply tighten up with a hex screw that is included with the kit. My 6000 is much more compact and I’ve only lost about 2 inches total from the shaft length by cutting off the twist locks. o

@jasong - I would have called it magnetite. Is it a possibility? He could streak test it.