Chris Ben

Thanks for the great question and the great responses. For whatever reason, I have not gotten around to doing the software updates on the GPZ. I run in auto, but I usually do some sort of scrape on most signals I get, sometimes a couple. I've been hitting signals on layers of black sand that disappear after a few scrapes. I also usual run really hot settings. I guess I need to do the updates. Chris Picture was from last weekend out with Dave, we broke a skunk finally. Dave good luck on your mission this weekend!

New ground is always fun!! Good luck! Chris

Congratulations!! Great job! Chris

I have a 9in metal plate in my hip with 17 screws, and am able to work a GPZ 14 coil. The big coil on the other hand goes off on swing towards my affected hip. I would think a knee replacement would be more problematic, but not impossible. Chris

Hey Condor, done any more prospecting in Baja? Your last trip was very interesting. Chris

There are some people way more qualified to answer than I, but my steps are a follows. 1 I try to see if the signal is repeatable. 2 I look to see how large of an area I'm getting a reaction from my detector. Is it pin printable? Or a large area. 3 next I start to scrape off layers of ground. Does the signal change? Lighter or stronger? This may take a few attempt to find a difference. 4 If it gets stronger I dig. Now with all this being said, I have been fooled on a few occasions. Once specifically by some red clay. The signal got louder on the first few digs, then never changed even after more than a foot and half of digging. My 1.4 ounce nugget I initially thought was ground noise. It wasn't till after a few scrapes and dig I realized it was a target (which I thought was trash lol) So I guess I rather be safe than sorry. Good luck! Chris

This was a sunbaker on top of a hill 10.8 grams. In the Johnnie district in NV. Chris

Jim that 18 to 20 inches, is impressive...for the GPZ...Lol. I just happened to get my coil over the right spot. Chris

Dave and I went out last Sunday and had some success. First I heard a slight but repeatable whisper in the center of a flat wash. Dug down about 20 inches and got an attractive 3 gram nugget. I really am amazed I found a nugget that small, that deep Next I headed to the other side of little valley and hit a wash (tiny drainage) I wasn't expecting much but came across these 2 nice specie. They cleaned up pretty nice. Very spongy gold, again impressed with the 7000. Dave found a nice 2 gram sunbaker!! Chris

Joining the club's is a good place to start. It's where I started. I learned where people "look" for gold, and next where people "find" gold. As well as how people "look and find" gold. I stayed a member for 2 years, then I went on my own. I still keep a GPAA membership just in case I travelto a place I am not familiar with. It gives me a place to start. And yes by all means, learn as much as you can from this forum. Best of luck. Chris

Always feels good to help someone out, and find a lost treasure. 👌 Good job, Chris

Buzzards, I struck out a long time in GB, before I finally found gold there. I use a GPZ 7000. The nuggets were not that deep, though I did dig a few 20 Inch holes for the bullets. My best advice is to just cover a lit of ground and use a GPZ. Lol Chris

I had a couple of productive days in a new area me and my buddy Dave have been checking out. First was last Sunday, I found a wash that gave up 8 nuggets, 6 for me and 2 for Dave, then I found a few small pieces in a couple of nearby tributaries. Ended up with about 8.8 grams. Then today we tried an area nearby, and I guess I got the lucky wash. I was able to dig up 11grams, biggest was 4.9. Two nuggets came out of the same hole. Dave and I hiked a lot and dug a bunch of bullets. Deep ones on bedrock, a bunch of heartbreak digs. Worn out we called it a day. It was a beautiful day to be out prospecting. Chris

Hi Steve, is there a function you can add where when you click on a topic it brings you to your first "unread" post. Instead of going through all old posts? It's like that on one of the fishing forums I'm in. Thanks Chris

I bet more than a half a gram. Chris