Algo Force 1500+ Coitek 9" Elite Max Testing

[Jeff McClendon]

I got to do a short 2 hour hunt/test of the Algoforce 1500 Plus using the new Coitek Elite Max 9" coil at a site in Central Colorado that has so much magnetite that as Steve H. calls it, it's like detecting on a big sheet of cast iron. Magnetite at this location goes from microscopic to golf ball size and every detector goes off on it.

Thankfully, the Algoforce ignored all of it that was sub gram size for the most part. I did chase a few really hot spots where there was a concentration of pea sized magnetite 4" or more below the surface or where the magnetite was so concentrated in one area that I could not keep up with ground balancing since it was below the surface and I only noticed it after walking into the concentration.

This site not only has huge amounts of magnetite, it also has a major set of power lines running right through it.

Anyway, I have taken these PI detectors to this site. GPX 4000, GPX 4800, GPX5000, SDC 2300, GPX 6000, and the Axiom.  None of those detectors could get within 100 yards of those power lines without being adversely effected enough to seriously hinder detecting. The SDC2300 was basically unusable and I had to switch to DD coils on the GPX models to get them to run quietly enough to hear smaller sub gram targets. The Axiom focused core 11X7" DD coil could not ground balance at this site until I switched to Normal timing and lowered sensitivity a lot. The mono coil handled the ground well but got killed by EMI.

The Algoforce did not suffer from any EMI issues. I was able to walk to within 10 yards of the power lines before I had to lower the sensitivity below 20 and do a noise cancel. I was running it in Ultra Fine. Just lowering sensitivity to 17 allowed me to walk right under the power lines. Amazing.

Sometimes PI detectors that are not affected by EMI too much especially using a DD coil, also lose some sensitivity. Not the Algoforce.

I did not find any gold but I did find some really tiny targets that only a gold prospecting VLF can find usually.

That was using Ultra Fine with sensitivity on 20 with the Coiltek Elite Max 9" coil. Part of this is the sensitivity of the Algoforce, but a huge part is its sensitivity AND quiet running with a dead steady threshold tone. Even the US Air Force jets that over flew the site barely wiggled that threshold. All of the sub 0.1 gram targets were easy to hear even at 2 to 3" deep.

The shotgun shell head stamp was a full 9" deep and gave a clear hit before I started removing dirt.

Something interesting. There are plenty of metamorphic mantle rocks at this site that are hot rocks. The Algoforce was barely responding to them. However, if there was a target nearby one of those hot rocks, just moving it out of the way a bit really cleaned up a weaker legitimate target response.

I did not hunt by target ID. I just hunted by tones. Larger pieces of iron and nails had obvious double beeps when they were closer to the surface. Bits of tin had an unsteady, wavering tone depending on size. The lead targets shown in the photo gave classic High/Low audio responses that were strong and screamed "dig me"! Hot rocks had weak, off center hits.

The Algoforce 1500 Plus was running so quietly (just kidding since I was using headphones) that two Rocky Mountain Snowshoe hares just walked right up to me. One sat down nearby and I got a nice photo. They looked to weigh about 5 lbs and were at least 2 feet long with huge back feet.

I wish I had been able to hunt longer but it's a 3 hour drive one way from my home.

There is plenty of flour gold at this site. I have found specie and sub 0.3 gram pickers with VLF detectors at this location. I have no doubt that I will be able to find some gold at this site with the Algoforce.

[phrunt]

It's good to see you're finding it handles your tough ground well Jeff, it's certainly the best when it comes to EMI without losing sensitivity.

I was thinking maybe in tough ground like that a less sensitive bundle wound coil would be required but it appears not, Coiltek have done a good job with that Elite Max by the sounds of it.

The Algoforce is a good tool to have in the toolkit.

[RONS DETECTORS MINELAB]

Jeff,

Just some of my own observations, I have been running the 10x5" Max and am impressed with it's sensitivity. The MK-2 Does even better at handling the ground but loses a little sensitivity over the 10x5" and lacks the waterproofing. 

Ron

[Guys gold]

Nice article,thanks for taking the time.It’s been driving me crazy since the max coils have arrived.No comparison between the 9” elite and the 9” max.I have a Algo and have a 9” elite that runs great.Just trying to justify throwing 400$ plus at this crazy pursuit.