fredmason

Welcome, Shelton. if you look through all the pages on this site you will find a good deal of information, especially about gold detectors. The links will take you to other sites with loads of information also. Australia is a wonderful place...the real treasure is in the experience! fred

Chris, another issue that can cause problems is turning the detector on and off in rapid order; that may cause the computer to get confused... Fred

Once again, great advice and wisdom from one of the best and hardest working gold hunters. Have a golden time in Alaska. fred

Another great adventure...hope you guys get some big ones and little ones...or, as i tell people i take prospecting; these are my Rules, I want the first, the last, the biggest and the most. You can have the rest. That seems ever so reasonable to me. fred

Mox, it is easy for a thoughtful person to get lost in all the options and opinions. Steve has nothing to sell and never, ever glosses over the rough spots; nor does he wax poetic about the good spots...the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth as he sees it. That is why I always suggest nubbies read all of his list of detectors. Ray, among others suggests two detectors and that is the wisest way to cover almost all nugget hunting issues...there will never be a perfect do everything detector. You just have to define your cost vrs benefit equation and take a shot. I donot currently have a goldbug or gmt but will again,someday soon-when I can quit spoon feeding my off-spring...I hope! I do have a minelab 5000 that I recently moved up to...sold my fantastic 3500 to my Buddy... I love hunting for and occasionally finding nuggets and will continue the search until I can't walk anymore... fred

Moxford; I am not being a smart-@#$ but your question covers way to much ground...some pun intended. In parts of plumas County there is some very hot ground...one claim is named the HOT PATCH... Hopefully others will chime in with conditions in other areas... fred

That is too bad, no reason to stop at the Golden nugget anymore! fred

There will be rumors of detectors...some will say this and some will say that... I say say show me the detector; especially after a few good men have given it a test drive-that would be Steve, Jonathan Porter and Billl Southern to name a few... fred

I just finished reading the second of a three part series written by Steve...the first two were excellent and I am sure the third will be a bang-up job also. Steve has the talent and patience to detail every aspect of the points he wants to elucidate...and does so in every article. The information is good for beginners and not-so-beginners alike...I always enjoy his writings. Ray, also has an article about coils that is great information for all detectorists... A subcription is really a great way to get continual reminders and upgrades to your gold hunting,mining and detectors knowledge... fred

Simplicity...what a concept! I do wish that all manufacturers would get with the "pick-your-coil- option"....not everyone wants or needs a variety of coils; or the expense. fred

great Pic's Ray...that looks like a harmless gopher snake...you are way too big to eat Geo! fred

good luck Steve...watch out for rattlesnakes and gila monsters..you did not have those in Alaska! Just big hungry griz... fred

You better order a HIPSTICK and save your shoulder!!!! While out in the Dales, Grandpa John let me play with his 25 inch NF...I was amazed how easy it swung with the aid of my HIPSTICK...which this old guy loves... fred

Thanks for the sentiment, Jonathan...it was my pleasure and you donot owe me any thing at all... fred

yes, and was not a witnessed fall...which would also be a subset of the known-fall category... fred

I wanna go, PLEEEZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! fred

There is no power in treasure hunting that is stronger, or better than Beginners Luck! fred

All meteorite falls are random; strewn fields are just lots of pieces from a break-up of one very large random fall. Any of O.Richard Norton's books will give you a good foundation in all-things meteoric...his Field Guide or Rocks From Space would be prefered unless you have a need for very technical information... The alder covered areas of Alaska could have ton sized meteorites and they would never be seen...the artic tundra areas that I see on hunting or wildlife shows would be a better place to find exposed meteorites-similar to the desert pavement areas... The guy that found the diamond fields in Canada started his search in Alaska and folllowed the clues to Canada...the lakes which hold diamonds are submerged kimberlite pipes that tend to erode faster than the surrounds... These are all things I have read in books...I don't actually know anything. fred

The evening news had a bit about the Fed Mint stating they had no reason to suspect that stash was connected to any heist of their goodies... however,it is always possible some over paid 'crat will dig-up a connection to justify their seizure of it. Silence is always best. fred

Yes, there are those that want to hide information from we-the- people that fund the research... All types of information has been deleted from topo and FS maps...mines, cemetaries, townsites, indian villages... that is our ever protective government in action. fred

I should have went there...I should have went there...too late now. fred

thanks Guys! fred

I do not understand why a pinpointer would affect the coil when it is off??? Is there a constant and therefore never actually off signal from the pinpointer? Or, does the transmit on the coil induce a signal that the detector then recieves? I never take my pack off and leave it anymore, "cause i ain't smart enough to pick it up before I wander over the next hill-much to my embaressment! Thank you for your always complete and thoughtful replies fred

Steve, being old school, I never have used an electronic pinpointer...what is Target ratcheting? Can the auto Gb be set and then turned off? I like the little carrying case-looks cool! fred

Yes, Rick the poor people of the world use and reuse everything, good for them! But, what the minelab guy said is not accurate...he should have said the detector will find any metallic metal but will ignore minerals. It is that inaccuracy that lets shadey dealers mislead the ignorant. I am not accusing Minelab of wrongdoing...but they have an obligation to be correct in their statements...in my never humble opinion! fred