Detector Maps Posted August 30, 2025 Share Posted August 30, 2025 Hi all, I’m Matt, co-founder of Detector Maps. My brother and I are prospectors (I’m also a geologist; he’s the software guy). We kept wishing our maps matched how we actually hunt… so we built the tool we wanted in the field. We launched in Australia first, and after a bunch of requests from this side of the pond, we’ve brought it to the USA. If this sort of post isn’t okay, mods please remove, no hard feelings. What is Detector Maps? A web + mobile mapping app for gold prospectors. Plan with confidence at home, then zero in faster once you’re on the ground. Layers available today Gold occurrences (USGS) – historic points to jump-start research. Geochemistry (colored by Au) – soils, streams, and rock samples. Property boundaries & parcels – see where private starts/ends; tap for basic owner/address info (where available). Motor Vehicle Access (MVUM) – USFS access context for getting in and out legally. Active mining claims (MLRS) – status/details so you don’t waste time or trespass. Closed-claim turnover heatmap – total historical claim count by PLSS section (aliquots on the roadmap). Surface Management Agency (public land) – our simplified SMA styling to see who manages what at a glance. PLSS grid overlay (online) – sections/townships/ranges for quick referencing. 1-meter LiDAR hillshade (where available) – brings out subtle diggings, tailings, old channels, trench lines, and terrain breaks you’ll never spot on satellite alone. Key features Offline maps – pre-download and hunt with no signal. Cross-platform – plan on desktop, hunt on iOS/Android; waypoints, tracks, and folders stay in sync. Trip planning tools – stash research, drop waypoints, measure distances, and control what’s visible on your map. No layer cap – overlay 15+ layers at once if you want to go deep. Why people use it Legal confidence: pair Active Claims with Property Boundaries and focus on the right ground. Faster area selection: LiDAR + historic features help you read the ground and pick gold bearing areas. Straightforward maps: tuned for detectorists, not GIS pros. Ethics & safety Detector Maps helps you research and plan, but it’s not legal advice. Always follow land-manager rules, cultural heritage protections, and get permission on private land. Pack it in, pack it out. Would love your feedback below. Q: Which states/regions do you hunt most? Q: What layers or tools would actually save you time (e.g., closed-claim “churn” heatmaps, mineralization hints, watercourse mapping, access notes)? Q: Any must-haves for offline field use? Thanks for having us, and good luck out there. — Matt (& Tom) @ Detector Maps Happy to share a few screenshots or a short screen-record if that’s okay with the mods. 1 1 Link to comment https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/30405-introducing-detector-maps-built-by-prospectors-for-prospectors-%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%B8/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detector Maps Posted August 30, 2025 Author Share Posted August 30, 2025 To join beta testing:Â www.detectormaps.com 2 Link to comment https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/30405-introducing-detector-maps-built-by-prospectors-for-prospectors-%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%B8/#findComment-304575 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detector Maps Posted August 30, 2025 Author Share Posted August 30, 2025 Screenshots from web app Link to comment https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/30405-introducing-detector-maps-built-by-prospectors-for-prospectors-%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%B8/#findComment-304578 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detector Maps Posted August 30, 2025 Author Share Posted August 30, 2025 More from web app 1 Link to comment https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/30405-introducing-detector-maps-built-by-prospectors-for-prospectors-%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%B8/#findComment-304579 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detector Maps Posted August 30, 2025 Author Share Posted August 30, 2025 Screenshots from mobile app Link to comment https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/30405-introducing-detector-maps-built-by-prospectors-for-prospectors-%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%B8/#findComment-304580 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shojo510 Posted August 30, 2025 Share Posted August 30, 2025 Welcome Matt, Looks good and I have visited some of the screenshot areas you have shared and could very much use a research tool for planning the next hunt. If I was to use this program I'm curious about the data points I log onto the maps, are those uploaded and shared with the general maps like an update to the current map? How is personal data logged and shared? Thank you  3 Link to comment https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/30405-introducing-detector-maps-built-by-prospectors-for-prospectors-%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%B8/#findComment-304584 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mn90403 Posted August 30, 2025 Share Posted August 30, 2025 What do Beta Testers do to get signed up? I've entered my email as requested. What is next? 2 Link to comment https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/30405-introducing-detector-maps-built-by-prospectors-for-prospectors-%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%B8/#findComment-304588 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Diggins Posted August 30, 2025 Share Posted August 30, 2025 Are you hosting this data yourself or streaming to your app from the free government servers? 2 Link to comment https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/30405-introducing-detector-maps-built-by-prospectors-for-prospectors-%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%B8/#findComment-304589 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenhorn Posted August 30, 2025 Share Posted August 30, 2025 7 hours ago, Detector Maps said: Hi all, I’m Matt, co-founder of Detector Maps. My brother and I are prospectors (I’m also a geologist; he’s the software guy). We kept wishing our maps matched how we actually hunt… so we built the tool we wanted in the field. We launched in Australia first, and after a bunch of requests from this side of the pond, we’ve brought it to the USA. If this sort of post isn’t okay, mods please remove, no hard feelings. What is Detector Maps? A web + mobile mapping app for gold prospectors. Plan with confidence at home, then zero in faster once you’re on the ground. Layers available today Gold occurrences (USGS) – historic points to jump-start research. Geochemistry (colored by Au) – soils, streams, and rock samples. Property boundaries & parcels – see where private starts/ends; tap for basic owner/address info (where available). Motor Vehicle Access (MVUM) – USFS access context for getting in and out legally. Active mining claims (MLRS) – status/details so you don’t waste time or trespass. Closed-claim turnover heatmap – total historical claim count by PLSS section (aliquots on the roadmap). Surface Management Agency (public land) – our simplified SMA styling to see who manages what at a glance. PLSS grid overlay (online) – sections/townships/ranges for quick referencing. 1-meter LiDAR hillshade (where available) – brings out subtle diggings, tailings, old channels, trench lines, and terrain breaks you’ll never spot on satellite alone. Key features Offline maps – pre-download and hunt with no signal. Cross-platform – plan on desktop, hunt on iOS/Android; waypoints, tracks, and folders stay in sync. Trip planning tools – stash research, drop waypoints, measure distances, and control what’s visible on your map. No layer cap – overlay 15+ layers at once if you want to go deep. Why people use it Legal confidence: pair Active Claims with Property Boundaries and focus on the right ground. Faster area selection: LiDAR + historic features help you read the ground and pick gold bearing areas. Straightforward maps: tuned for detectorists, not GIS pros. Ethics & safety Detector Maps helps you research and plan, but it’s not legal advice. Always follow land-manager rules, cultural heritage protections, and get permission on private land. Pack it in, pack it out. Would love your feedback below. Q: Which states/regions do you hunt most? Q: What layers or tools would actually save you time (e.g., closed-claim “churn” heatmaps, mineralization hints, watercourse mapping, access notes)? Q: Any must-haves for offline field use? Thanks for having us, and good luck out there. — Matt (& Tom) @ Detector Maps Happy to share a few screenshots or a short screen-record if that’s okay with the mods. 1. Current active claim locations mapped in California within a section.   1 Link to comment https://www.detectorprospector.com/topic/30405-introducing-detector-maps-built-by-prospectors-for-prospectors-%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%B8/#findComment-304602 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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