aerospace guy

I've never had a find this big so excuse my ignorance..I finally weighed it in grams which is what I am used to anyway. Weighs 34.4 grams..so 1.212 ounces? Anyway biggest I have found!

10 hours ago, nebulanoodle said:

Nice looking chunk! How much does that sucker weigh in grams? I’m not familiar with gold measured in carats

Will re weigh in grams...that's what I'm used to anyway..most of my finds being smaller..look for it.

GB you are right, although the 6000 comes close..doesn't pick up teeny tiny gold like my EQ800 does but heck, I'd trade that for all the deeper gold! Gerry said that he showed Minelab 'people' the same thing that I saw demonstrated that the 5000 does not pick up some specimens. It's ON ME that it took so long for me to move on and sell the 5000. That's a lesson learned.

thanks..good to know! Question please,' I have been getting PM's for better pics and 'actual' weight. Does this website accept videos? Think I have seen some?

Should have said I ran mostly with disc ON then doubled checked in 'all metal" mode..my bad!

Yes, a couple of points. I was at Gerry's class last June at Rye Patch when he showed that "largish" nugget 'sprinkled with gold that almost ALL detectors sounded off on EXCEPT the GPX5000.

Bishop, yes I finally got frustrated with the 5000 although I got tips from Pat Keene (and others) who found quite a bit of gold..some large gold with it. That June class had the 1st 6000 detectors just being delivered and the way Gerry conducts the class, when someone picks up a likely target he has everyone come over and swing over the spot. I quickly saw that the 6000 punches way way deeper (our EQ800's wouldn't make a 'peep' )and the 6000 owner would dig another nice nugget. I did get to swing the 6000 a little and what a joy..perfectly balanced. I still want to try one here in the EL Paso's which is loaded with hot rocks to see what challenges there are.

              As for what numbers showed up with the EQ ..well I was detecting the way G taught us, that is to use "all metal" for more depth then I would switch it off to double check what I thought I had as a target. This quickly became untenable what with hot rocks and I was in a wash/drainage with tons of trash..small wire, screws, tin can lids etcetera. So I switched it up and ran with discrimination 'on' and then once in awhile I would turn disc. off to double check a target and to dig the target. The gold piece registered about '21' so I assumed it was another tin can lid which I had already found. But  the signal was so strong in all modes I decided to dig it anyway and I'm glad I did! The ground being wet/moist it came out dirty/muddy and I thought can this be real? Having no water close I spit on it and sure enough it was shiny! WOW!

              Phrunt..you are absolutely correct different detectors DO complement each other and I am learning that lesson. If the 6000 is able...make that if I am am able  to figure out how to best use the 6000 on this ground...I will go ahead and get one. Hopefully my NorCal "friend" will come down in Feb and I can try his.

             As for the weight of the nugget, I have NEVER had anything this big to weigh so I tried to set it to ounces and thought I got 1.71 ounces. I'll have my 30+ years  prospecting buddies weigh it for me when I see them...they'll laugh at me for my ignorance..they load there own ammo and know ALL gold weights and numbers.

 (Corrected about discrimination)

Gold Catcher posted a week or so back about his trip to the El Paso mountains..a place I go to all the time. I have detected here in the past with a GPX5000 which I said wasted my gas, resources and worst of all TIME! I know a lot of people have had LOTS of success with that detector but I have witnessed with my own eyes a large(small potato size) specimen "sprinkled with gold NOT set off a GPX5000! I've been out with my EQ800 less than 6 times and have numerous "small" pieces of gold as well as a 4.3 gram nugget and a 1.71 ounce nugget just this past weekend. The larger nugget is a conglomerate and I plan to take it to one of my friends, Pat K. and have him fire up his 5000 to see what response he gets with it. Anyway, now I am enjoying prospecting again and I hope to be able to test out a GPX6000 next month in the same area.

On 12/30/2021 at 9:16 PM, Yellowmadness said:

If you want some tips hit me up. I been hunting this area and have done well enough to get a sdc and a 7000..

I found 142+ gram nugget with a gold bug and quit a few more pieces.

Please contact me.

YellowM...just saw your post! Wow! Tell me you didn't find all that at Goler but Nevada, Az or somewhere else? Because of the holidays I hardly have looked at Det/Prosp and when I did see your post I was blown away..well done!

                Just PM'd someone that I am going to Goler Jan14,15 &16 on the Randsburg side to try my luck again. That person offered the use of his 6000 for me to try...hope at some point this year to be able to try one with thoughts of then buying one.

                 Yes we should all meet up sometime! The geologist we camped with a month ago was really a font of info...I have his contact info and at some point he and I will meet again out there.

Did you have success in Northern or Southern Ca.?

PS: Almost forgot..my last trip out a month ago I met & camped with the geologist who is "painting" everything red out there on the Garlock side. He is snatching up expired claims for a Las Vegas investor who plans to mine them. Vet interesting!

Gold Catcher..what "side" of the mountains were you on, the Garlock/Randsburg side or the Schmidt Burro tunnel side? Both sides are interesting, the tunnel side has large talc mines you can walk in. I'm told that at one time a trolly system was put up to take the talc down to the valley. Also there are old buildings the BLM hasn't torn down yet (like they are won't to do)  that are interesting. One, called the "rock house" is way up on a peak with a killer view of the valley below. Of course the tunnel, the old post office etc. And quite a few multi level mines..most all of which the BLM have closed off.

If you come down again I would take you as a guest to where I found my nugget in return for 1/2 hour with the 6000. The area I found the nugget has also has produced several 1 ounces. Don't think my EQ800 can compete with the 6000 unless the gold is shallow. Still debating buying a 6000 next year when I am eligible for another military discount. BUT.. as you say the hot rocks are a concern,,I'd like to see in person how it does. Best to you!

Gold Catcher..this is where I detect 99% of the time. I belong to 3 clubs that have claims in the area. I just posted a week or so ago about trouble with "hot rocks" with my EQ800 and asked for some tips. I think the EQ does ok and will find bird shot and -20(classified size) gold all day long. However, you are correct in saying there  R HRocks R on the surface and buried all over...some areas R more free of them than others. I used a GPX5000 for years out here and frankly the EQ does WAY better than it ever did! I know people say the 6000 will do good out here but I'd like to see it run out here to see for myself how it does. Good luck and hope you find some bigger gold. I found a 4.3 grammar this year there with the EQ.

Gerry..bought EQ800 from you and took your class and watched GPX6000 while I was there. 2 questions please ,(1)where I am at there are a ton of hot rocks in some areas and a little less in others but always some. The EQ800 wasn't liking one area in Gold 1 and was really "staticy" so I turned sensitivity down down down. Finally I went to Gold2 and it wasn't much better. Didn't think to try beach mode until after I left area....will it or any other mode handle hot rocks better?

                          (2) how will the GPX6000 do on hot rocks? Anyone have experience?

Sevastras..congrats..I took training with Gerry there also and found gold but with an EQ 800. My question to you is, " what area of the country were you having "trouble" in"? Where I live, there are a multitude of "hot rocks" which always caused me trouble... and still do with the EQ800 so I sometimes have to go to single frequency. What did Gerry recommend for when you have trouble please? What settings did he say might work in that situation on you 6000?

Thx..I guess it's time to look at aftermarket waterproof headphones!

Northeast .. simple get him a EQ 800..for what you can sell a used 5000 for you can EASILY buy one ! iT IS SOOOOO much easier to use. If you have fun..that is actually find things with your detector you will be motivated to go out again and again! If you don't find things you WON'T want to go out..make sense? I found a 4.3 gram nugget my first time out with the EQ. I found a silver Diamond ring in Kauai last week with the EQ.  I found coins on dry sand at extraordinary depths...deeper than you think you want to dig. I am NOT exaggerating when I say the 5000 simple won't see some gold specimens ..I saw it demonstrated with my own eyes! 

                As for me...I think I will also buy a 6000 as I saw it in Situ..it's really good1

NORTHEAST..in my opinion( and at my age I feel I don't need to edit my opinions especially) I think you would be doing your friend a GIANT service if you were to tell him to sell the 5000 and use the $ to purchase something else. Especially if as you say he is NOT  a technologically proficient person! You and everyone else commenting here are setting him up for a load of frustration! I owned one for 5+ years and I feel it was a total waste of valuable time gas travel etc.! Gerry of Gerry's detectors gave a demonstration of a "slew" of detectors on several hundred thousand dollars worth of gold in all sizes and compositions. The 5000 simple would not "see" a lot of specimens that a "simple "VLF detector would pick up with ease! I wish I had known this years ago..instead the dealer(in Az) who sold it to me said "well look at the price of the 5000..there is a reason it costs so much..because it is a proven detector". Bull Pucky! Buddy you wasted 5 years of my life! Ask Gerry of his opinion..I know him as a guy "who tells it as it is". Yes, really really experienced detectorists could probably make it work .. but with the GPX6000 out now why would anyone go thru the torture of a 5000 with dozens and dozens of setting? And as for the claim that the 5000 handles mineralized ground better.. again Bull Pucky..you have to detune it so much you may as well use a EQ800 which in fact handles mineralized ground better!

Gerry..Thx again for the Rye Patch training this year on The EQ800..when I think of all the targets I did NOT dig in the several months I had the EQ because I was going by numbers until I got to your training and learned what to look for and dig...now I have to go back and dig those "passed over" targets! Oh well!

                   I also learned or validated(to myself at least) why I sold my GPX5000 and I wish I had known what you learned many years ago, that is, the 5000 didn't "see" a lot of targets! When I think of the time I wasted...man oh man! Yes, I'm quite sure that much more proficient detectorists have done well with the 5000...but they and I are a world apart in experience!

                  Finally, I at first was making a distinction after your training that the EQ would find gold that the GPX6000 wouldn't. Yes, but I've come around to the thinking that that EQ gold is soooo tiny that the EQ has it's place but the 6000 has an even bigger place and is much much better at finding deeper gold of most sizes...just not super tiny stuff. If it weren't so darn expensive and/or I lived in "gold" country and didn't have to travel hours to get to gold country!

Yes, that type of handle exactly! I have a scoop similar to that..7X15 with a 1.212 inch one piece wooden handle I use at home. I'll look into the handle..Thx!

I bought these headphones and used them in the ocean last week in the Kauai (up to my neck).The dealer is always busy or on a trip so I thought I'd throw this out there to get some feedback. I had a few instances where the audio cut out completely and I jiggled the cord and it came back. My question is, should the end of the headphone cord have an o-ring like a lot of my scuba equipment does? The EQ800 still seems to work fine so I don't believe any water made it's way inside detector.

                   As to my success ..well let's just say I understand why my dealer goes to Cancun for his jewelry hunts and not where I went where the waves are 3,4,5 feet. I quickly looked for beaches with "breakwaters" that you can safely take children to and I did find lots of coins and 1 silver diamond ring..but man, it was still 'surgey' as heck and not easy to lift one foot up to push scoop into sand while keeping your balance! Anyone have any experience in using the EQ in the ocean? I saw online sand scoops with a "cross" handle (like on a small shovel) where when you scoop you can keep the scoop from twisting sideways...thoughts..usage?The scoop handle would have to be a "breakdown" type to be able to pack for air travel. The scoop I took has a straight shaft that easily turns sideways when scooping.

Stev H can move this if it doesn't belong here! That weekend there R no less than 4 outings for gold prospectors!

OC49ers(as "guests") of LDMA,

Taft Club,

Pat Keene's group

and where I'll be at Rocky Road (160 acre claim) for Antelope Valley Treasure Club chili cook out.

One viewer mentioned he was interested in going out and that he had also joined Taft but had not yet gone on an outing with them. You may look these clubs up and contact them for   directions or I can also direct you as I have been out with all of them. This nugget was found on a OC49er claim this year with an EQ800. I will be going back there another time as I am committed to the AV club outing for that weekend. 

1 hour ago, Gerry in Idaho said:

Thanks for reaching out and asking questions on depth.  Rob is correct about the variables that change the outcome.

I and a few of my customers have dug many nuggets with VLF detectors at depth of 10" or more and a few closer to the 14-16" range.  This nice prize was found at the 14-16" range and the 15x12" coil is in the hole to show depth.

I'll be honest though, they are not small gold.  Even this year I have dug nice specimen gold at 12"+ so I'm good with those depths.  This one was found using stock 11" coil and found at 12-14"

As for getting depths in virgin soils (undisturbed ground) like we hunt in much of North Nevada on small solid nuggets (Rye Patch type gold) I can get a VLF technology detector approx 4" to 5" on a 1 gram.  A 1/4 ozt approx 6 to 8" and a 1/2 ozt approx 10".  I dug a 3/4 otz nugget many years ago with a GB-2 and 10" coil at Rye Patch that was every bit of 10" in virgin soil.  Below are a few other nuggets I or I was with customers that were dug using VLF detectors at depths of 10"+.

Now take those same size nuggets and go into tailing piles and your depth greatly increases.  Do you know why?  Less mineralized soil and or black sands that the VLF detector needs to get through.  That's why I enjoy hunting tailings more than virgin ground with a VLF.  Plus the VLF detector is lighter and faster than bigger PI's and has better iron identification.

Here is the issue with many that hunt for gold with a VLF detector at such sites like Rye Patch, Quartzsite and other well know nugget producers.   If you go where others who have hunted using big PI's and or GPZ's in the mentioned sites, you are best not to use a big coil on the VLF detector.  You're better off using a small coil to get the best results on tiny nuggets.  Bigger machines, especially SD/GP and early GPX models miss many small nuggets as that is one of their weaknesses.  So you need to take that knowledge, get your VLF and put in the smallest coil you can get and then go find the tiny ones they missed.  Below a prime example of using a VLF detector with small coil to find a tiny nugget

Trying to put a big coil on a VLF detector so you can match the depth of a PI is just plain ridiculous for most (not all) known nugget producing grounds.  VLF's can not handle the soils and will not perform near as well as a big PI machine.  BUT...if you use the VLF in tailing piles with no soils or mixed, then your depth of the VLF will go up and you actually could use the stock coil or on a rare occasion go big.  Not saying the bigger PI's are not good in these situations, but the weight of the bigger detectors are excessive and their Iron ID capabilities are not as good as todays VLF's

If I was on a budget of $3000 to find as many kinds of gold possible, here is a good setup I would consider.

My #1 selection for VLF (at this time) is the Equinox 800 with stock coil and a small 6" round coil.  Cost for both detector and extra small coil approx $1100. 

The other detector would be a used (from a dealer who knows how to test it properly) GP-3000, GP-3500 or GPX-4000 detector.  This is your power detector to get nice nuggets at depth in most all soils.  These detectors can be picked up for $1000 to $2000 and are proven winners when it comes to 2 gram nuggets and up at depth (better than a VLF).

Hope this helps and if anyone else wants to add, please feel free.

Thx Gerry!

3 hours ago, Rob Allison said:

Hello Areospace,

   I will let Gerry answer the question more directly, but I will just toss in that any PI in my opinion will find a 3/4 to 1 ounce piece at a foot or better with no problem if you are paying attention.  It might not be a screaming target, but still something you would investigate and dig hopefully.  There are so many variables when it comes to depth and some like to use the "stretchy rulers."  

Wishing you much success out there and hopefully a nice whooper under your detector coil.

Rob

Thx!

Gerry, in June you did air tests on all the detectors present at Rye Patch including the just arrived 6000. Your memory is better than mine and you are in contact with lots of detectorists so you may be able to answer the depth question for me? While in Rye Patch in June , Paul, a former student stopped in and showed a pic of a "large" nugget found 30 inches deep with his 7000. The gold pic looked to be 3/4 wide by 1 1/2 inches long and flat. I have seen lots of pics of small gold found with the 6000 because most all gold found is small of course. Just curious about depth on larger pieces if you or anyone has any info ? Failing anyone sharing info I am curious on depth of the EQ800 on say a 3/4 piece of gold since that is what I bought from you. One of your instructors said that weekend that the EQ will detect maybe 14 inches on a "large" piece? I know, I know, a lot depends on density of gold, size, position in ground, ground conditions etc. etc. Seems the 6000 is going to pick up way better on "moderate" gold than the EQ from what I observed at Rye Patch..The EQ didn't "hear" some of the 6000 targets we all saw. I'm just wondering that if I am ever fortunate to swing over a 3/4 or 1 ounce nugget what my chances are of hearing it at what depth? Know you are a buy guy....any chance, downtime you get to answer is appreciated!