Axiom Mono/dd Coil Gpx4000 Nf 10x5 Coil Depth Test Deus 2 Also

[Jeff McClendon]

I did a quick in the ground depth test today in a freshwater (frozen) lake beach cut using the Axiom with 11X7 Mono and DD coils, GPX 4000 with an older Nugget Finder 10X5" mono and Deus 2 using its 9" coil. Deus 2 was really along for the ride. I used it to test for iron mineralization and for targets in the test area so I tested these targets with it too.

 

 

 

I had a 0.03 gram nugget at 2.5" depth, a 0.15 gram nugget at 5" depth and US clad dime (2.27 grams) and a US nickel (5 grams) at 10" depth. I had these targets taped to some 13" long shims and they were stuck about 2" into the vertical wall of the cut. Photo just shows the test setup. I only tested one target inserted into the cut at a time.

 

 

Iron mineralization was moderate to high as shown by the Deus 2 iron mineralization meter (graph at bottom left of display screen).

 

 

I first tested the GPX 4000 using General/Normal Mono coil setting with Gain on 12.  That little Nugget Finder 10X5 coil gave clear, soft hits on both gold nuggets and also easily hit both US coins at 10" depth.

Next I tested the Axiom with the 11X7" focused core DD coil running in Fine/Slow with gain on 4. I had no problems ground balancing this DD coil at this site. The responses on both gold nugget targets were faint and audible but they were not as sharp as the GPX 4000 responses with the Nugget Finder Elliptical. The Axiom DD had strong, clear responses on the 10" coins.

Next was the Axiom with the 11X7" Mono coil running Fine/Slow with gain on 4. No problems ground balancing. The responses on the 2.5" and 5" deep nuggets were more sharp and rivaled the responses of the GPX 4000 with the 10X5" Nugget Finder.  The Mono coil also gave strong, clear responses on the 10" US coins.

Deus 2 using FMF Goldfield and the Mono program set on 45 kHz, Pitch tones, -6.4 disc, had almost identical responses on the 2 gold nuggets. The targets responses were a bit faint but clearly audible. For me anyway, definitely "Dig Me" responses. Both programs were also able to elicit a response over the 10" deep coins. They were not strong responses but at least FMF Goldfield had enough information to throw up some fairly accurate target IDs occasionally on both coins.  I also gave the Sensitive and Deep High Conductor programs a chance to hit those coins..........absolutely no response.

Hope this helps anyone that was wondering about the Axiom especially and even Deus 2. Both are very capable detectors in high iron mineralization even on small targets.

GPX4000 with that ancient Nugget Finder elliptical......amazing.

[phrunt]

Good testing, the next step is going deeper until there is a winner! 

If the Deus 2 is holding its own, the PI's should be able to keep going a fair bit deeper yet.

Sounds like you've got a good combination of detectors now for your soil type.

[Jeff McClendon]

2 hours ago, phrunt said:

Good testing, the next step is going deeper until there is a winner! 

If the Deus 2 is holding its own, the PI's should be able to keep going a fair bit deeper yet.

Sounds like you've got a good combination of detectors now for your soil type.

Thanks Simon.

I did this little test to prove three things to myself and anyone else that wants to know.

The Axiom is at least as sensitive as the GPX series on smaller targets. I was running it very conservatively.

The GPX 4000 is quite the detector and can still hold its own today.

Deus 2's gold prospecting mode and even the Mono mode running 45 kHz, set wide open -6.4 disc, using VCO audio and the 9" coil can hit some deep coin sized targets even in the crappy dirt I was testing in. It's basically beep/dig but that's okay. However, its normal default FMF discrimination modes simply can't handle that dirt nearly as well.

I will do a test soon with a Coiltek 14X9 on the GPX 4000 and the Axiom with its 13X11. That should be fun. 

I am not looking for a winner.  I know which detector I would pickup and use given a choice.

Holding, swinging and detecting with the Axiom is a real pleasure. It's like using a finely tuned musical instrument that not only plays well, it feels great to use as if it was fitted just for me. I don't think I have ever been able to think that about a GPX 4000 to 5000. They detect well but the ergonomic design is just ridiculous.

[FishBamboo]

Thanks for the test results. Glad I didn't sell my 5000. I agree with Phrunt "next step is to go deeper until you get a winner".

[Jeff McClendon]

11 minutes ago, FishBamboo said:

Thanks for the test results. Glad I didn't sell my 5000. I agree with Phrunt "next step is to go deeper until you get a winner".

Like I just said, I am not interested in a winner.

The Axiom is the detector I would use for most detecting unless I had to go after a target a meter deep. I would need a bigger coil for my GPX 4000 for sure. My biggest is 14X9".  I bought this 4000 recently because it was available at a ridiculous $800 US price with two good batteries and two coils. I didn't really need it, but now I have a fine backup or loaner when one of my grown up kids goes with me.

If you haven't picked up an Axiom.......the balance and feel of this detector is incredible. Minelab's GPX 6000 has good ergonomics but the Axiom is on a whole different level.

So, the Axiom is easily the equal of the GPX series on smaller targets with similar sized coils. That was important for me to find out.

Deep test comes later when the ground here thaws out.

[EL NINO77]

 

Jeef..have you tried increasing the IAR disk in the gold program in Deus 2?..from 0 to 1,2,3 and with what results?. on nuggets and from the results on coins...
The mineralization meter on the Deus 2 indicates... that even a VLF detector can be reasonably successful here..But I also believe that PI detectors  Axiom and GPX 5000...are simply better here and have a better depth reserve ...
Thanks for this test and comparison.👍.

 ...but like others, I'm also looking forward to your next in-depth detector test in this field...

[Jeff McClendon]

45 minutes ago, EL NINO77 said:

 

Jeef..have you tried increasing the IAR disk in the gold program in Deus 2?..from 0 to 1,2,3 and with what results?. on nuggets and from the results on coins...
The mineralization meter on the Deus 2 indicates... that even a VLF detector can be reasonably successful here..But I also believe that PI detectors  Axiom and GPX 5000...are simply better here and have a better depth reserve ...
Thanks for this test and comparison.👍.

 ...but like others, I'm also looking forward to your next in-depth detector test in this field...

I use Deus 2 and ORX for very small nugget gold prospecting. Using any kind of iron discrimination on sub 0.1 gram gold targets is "iffy" at best and can result in masking or in turning small gold nugget boderline non-ferrous responses into ferrous responses more easily depending on the level of ground mineralization and depth.

Disc IAR works really well for larger non-ferrous targets, especially those that are not low conductors that have target IDs close to the ferrous range of target IDs. I often will use my Deus 2 in Goldfield or ORX in one of its Gold modes with Disc IAR set fairly high and iron volume on when I am hunting for mid to high conductor coins/relics in surface to 8" deep iron/nail infested older sites.