AU_Solitude
-
Posts
320 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Forums
Detector Prospector Home
Detector Database
Downloads
Posts posted by AU_Solitude
-
-
Like Scott said, most modern VLF's break down to be fairly compact, including both of those that you mention. It's better to have these disassembled in the cab of your truck than in the the back. Letting a detector bounce around in the back isn't going to contribute to it's longevity, I'm rough on mine but I think that's where I would draw the line.
-
56 minutes ago, Nevada Brian said:
Au_Solitude, are you able to post any pictures from your trip without giving the location away?
Unfortunately I didn't take any this trip. Next time!
-
44 minutes ago, Ridge Runner said:
AU_Solitude
We got treasure like that on Texas Coast but the State of Texas has it block so you can't get it. I know just where the ships lay and how many but if they catch you there with a detector your butt is grass and theirs is a lawn mower. I'm sure it may be some to hunt that area along the beach after a storm but that's a guess.
Chuck
I'd be tempted to dive it anyway...too many rules!
-
2 hours ago, auminesweeper said:
The trouble with mines is the only metal part in them is the cap or primer because even the firing pin and the springs are made of plastic, That is why the SDC is so hot on small gold, What ever they have planned it will be good, I see in OZ the MOD did sell off a lot of the F3's and the F4A1s and some folks have even had them converted to nugget detectors,
Aussie Matt can fill you in on that side of things as I am sure he has the Good Oil on how good they are,
john
I had a minelab F3 Compact for a little while, operationally, it was almost identical to the SDC, the performance wasn't even close as it would not hit on gold under half a gram unless it was pressed right against the coil.
Mine detectors are built to handle extreme mineralization and interference, however, in my experience they are not geared towards low conductor detection and this is why true gold detectors will always outperform them by leaps and bounds. Both the minelab F1A4 and F3 series detectors perform more in line with the earlier SD series.
-
For those of you who will watch a quick video...http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2016/05/16/ancient-treasure-trove-shipwreck-israel-sdg-orig.cnn
-
1 hour ago, Roughwater said:
Before the next trip purchase a couple ThermaCell's, 1 for you and 1 for your partner unless you don't like your partner . They are the only thing I have found to work almost a 100% at keeping mosquito's away. They are amazing! Walmart or most sporting goods stores sell them.
Terry
Never even heard of this, I just found them on Amazon but there is little info in the description, how do they work?
-
I finally was able to break away from the daily grind and get out for an overnight detecting trip with my brother this last weekend. I have had my eye on a certain spot for the last year or so, the opportunity to detect it has never really presented itself, work and other priorities have a habit of getting in the way.
The hike in was very pleasant with the temperature never breaking sixty degrees. Perfect weather for lugging around a forty pound bag. The views of the canyon during our descent, combined with the scent of blooming Deer-brush and Snow-Drop bushes that filled the air were euphoric. Navigating off trail along old mining ditches is always an adventure; at times, these ditches almost seem to be better established pathways than most trails, until they aren't and you're faced with a blockade of blackberry and the wonderful poison oak. I have an Estwing machete that is usually pretty useful in clearing pathways, I employed this, along with gloved hands, and managed to force a pathway for the next quarter mile to our destination. We set up camp right in the middle of some monolithic tailings where the old timers had hydraulic'ed massive swaths of the hillsides away for almost an additional quarter of a mile at the same elevation.
After setting up camp, it was getting close to about six-o-clock. My brother and I decided to get some time in detecting the area immediately surrounding us before nightfall. My brother was using a Minelab VLF and I was using the SDC, at times we would check each others targets, his Iron-ID being useful to me, and the mineralization immunity of my SDC useful to him on the hot rocks or spots of bedrock. It was quickly clear that nobody had detected here, or if they had, they hadn't done a very good job. We were pulling piles of square nails, bits of wire, and lead out of the ground, unfortunately, not a spec of gold. Time has a way of escaping you when you have coil over soil, and before we knew it, darkness was closing in and we retreated to our camp for the night.
Rarely do you sleep as well in remote areas as you do in the comfort of your own bed, that said I have had many a decent night's sleep in the wild, this however was not among them. The mosquitoes at this location were absolutely relentless. We were wearing 100% DEET repellent, we continuously stoked the campfire, and I even went as far as to dawn a "no-see-um" mosquito head-net, all to no avail. These mosquitoes were small in stature, but what they lacked in size, they made up for in numbers and aggressiveness. Once the mercury dropped below about fourty five degrees, we finally had some relief as the mosquitoes seemed to vanish, this was about one in the morning and I finally was able to nod off for a few moments. My rest was short lived, about three in the morning both my brother and I awoke to the sound of a bear mauling a nearby tree for grubs I assume, I made some noise to try and get some reprieve from his racket but he continued to do his thing. Sleeping in a mummy bag out in the open is a little unnerving when you know such a powerful creature is close by, I felt like a bear burrito, I think I may have managed an hour or two more of sleep before the sun broke the horizon.
I would have liked to have said that we were able to detect more that morning, that we found ounces upon ounces of gold, unfortunately we had a long hike out as well as a lengthy drive home and we were both physically and mentally drained, after detecting for about forty-five more minutes, we both decided it was in our best interest to begin the 3,000 ft ascent back up the canyon. We didn't get any gold there this trip, I do know it's waiting for us from sampling in the past and we will be back, a little better prepared.
-
IMHO if you're looking to score some gold, stick with your current arsenal of detectors if you know them well, trying to learn a new detector might keep you from getting better results on your trip.
-
Depends on the machine; on the gold bug, the Nel coils are a bit hotter than the stock coil, the trade off is an open coil design on the larger coils that may catch on rocks, brush, etc. They are are also waterproof and very durable. Most of the time your stock coil will do just as well.
-
2 hours ago, Roughwater said:
Sorry to hear of that. There are always a few low life's out there just waiting for some easy money to steal. I was at a minors camp in AK and they had a serious anti theft policy. You steal something and you get caught, you may not leave AK. Needless to say the camp was pretty theft free!
You should avoid those minors camps... Stop pretty theft.
-
It's sad that there is sh***** people like that. As far as securing valuables in a camper vehicle is concerned, I don't really think there is anything that is foolproof, especially if they are approaching on ATV.
- You could do your best to make it as difficult as possible to enter, good deterrence is often the best protection (The fact is that had everything been secured in a small safe, chances are they would have just walked off with the safe.)
- A.) Don't carry cash B.) Don't carry cash C.) Don't carry cash...I know a lot of people don't trust banks, or it is inconvenient, the truth is that this is the safest place for your money.
- Don't use padlocks - if they can't get at it with bolt cutters, one or two good blows with a hammer and these things are usually gone.
- The best solution is to keep as many of your valuables on your person as possible - use a waterproof otter-box/pelican case etc stashed in your pack (Gold, cash if you have to have it, all personal documents.) Plenty of crackheads out there that are more than eager to relieve you of your valuables when you are not around, not very many people are ready to elevate that to armed robbery.
-
Thanks Chris, I guess "lower elevation" was pretty subjective and vague, I had 3,000 feet or less in mind. You gave me exactly the answer I was looking for though!
-
I was looking for serious opinions, I know there is large gold at higher elevations; my question was why are larger nuggets found more frequently at lower elevations. I was hoping to spark some conversation here but if it's just going to turn into a joke I'll take my leave.
-
We all know gold is where you find it, and that the number of small nuggets far outnumbers the large, however, it seems to me that the vast majority of larger nuggets seem to be plucked from lower elevations here in California. Why is this?
Is it because more people hunt the lower elevations? Is it because the terrain is easier traverse so it is hunted more effectively at lower elevations? Is there a lack of larger placer gold at higher elevations due to geological upheaval of ancient riverbeds or other factors? Is it simply that most of ancient gold bearing waterways deposited gold at what are now lower elevations?
Opinions please...
-
1 hour ago, strick said:
I hope you are able to find somewhere else to go
strick
Thanks Strick! Iv'e looked around but the weather forecast looks pretty similar for much of gold country here and even into Nevada.
-
I know, I know...we need the rain here in CA. But why does it have to move in at the most inopportune times?
I had planned my first detecting trip of the year, Friday through Sunday, and now it's supposed to rain all three days with high Temps of about 50 degrees. Terrains too rough to work in wet weather so the trips off.
-
Wait until you step on one...that'll make you about s*** your pants.
-
Even if it's not me pulling large gold from the ground, it's always encouraging to see people making finds like this, keeps the dream alive.
-
That should sell some ATX's. Incredible.
-
-
7 hours ago, sjmpainter said:
High Dean, I would set up a separate motor with T80. I have a 4 HP Honda with P160 and T80 the weight would be to much for a Keene 2 Inch dredge.
If you only use it on occasion I would look at a DC powered air compressor. I would think that would work fine on the cheap side also
That looks like a cheap death trap of a setup - snorkel in place of a regulator? No thanks...and I doubt that little compressor puts out even the 3 cfm you need at rest let alone support a working diver.
-
I think a typical T-80 requires a minimum of a 3.5 horse to maintain the necessary 5-6 cfm, that said, there are many other options these days.
-
I love the picture of the hard pack intact stuffed with lil' nugs.
-
1 minute ago, Ridge Runner said:
The only thing I'll say is don't do it alone.
Chuck
Well, have someone waiting on the outside, that's what I do, having two people get hurt isn't a great idea. And its a very good idea to carry a clip on gas meter to monitor O2, H2S, CO, etc.
Sample Pan ?
in Gold Panning, Sluicing, Dredging, Drywashing, Etc
Posted
This is one pan of material or multiple pans from one spot? That is fantastic.