Going to Melbourne in July... Would the CTX be any good for gold hunting?

Diggin-N-Dumps

Gold Member
Sep 9, 2009
6,046
3,781
Fort Worth,Texas
Detector(s) used
CTX 3030 / AT PRO / Etrac w/ NEL
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I have a trip coming up to Australia and wanted to know if its worth taking the CTX for hunting Gold or if the ATP would be better.

Im taking a detector either way, but wanted to know what makes more sense. I have a full 2 weeks there , so I would love to be able and get out for alot of that time.
 

ColonelDan

Hero Member
Jan 19, 2014
998
2,163
Central Florida
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Deus II
Primary Interest:
Beach & Shallow Water Hunting
I've had and used both and both will find gold. However, I would strongly opt for the CTX by far and in any environment you encounter!

Just the view from my foxhole...
 

Bigdob

Full Member
Aug 1, 2016
145
185
IL
Detector(s) used
CTX 3030
Minelab Safari
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I’ve got a CTX and while it finds gold , in the form of rings and jewelry I don’t think I’d use it in a gold field for nuggets.
Have done some testing in the past with small gold pieces and not good.
I’d get a dedicated gold machine , maybe an 800 as it’s capable of gold nuggets and also coins and relics.
If you can get some small nuggets I’d test and see what you find.
Also make sure your pinpointer will hit the small gold my Garrett wasn’t good for that either.
Good luck in your search
BT
 

ColonelDan

Hero Member
Jan 19, 2014
998
2,163
Central Florida
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Deus II
Primary Interest:
Beach & Shallow Water Hunting
Bigdob is right. The CTX will find gold but you’ll be frustrated and disappointed with it and the ATP if nuggets is what you’re after. A dedicated machine for such hunting is the ticket.
Another option is the Equinox 800. It has a prospecting mode, a fast processor and is more sensitive to small targets than the CTX or the ATP.

Just the view from my foxhole...
 

OP
OP
Diggin-N-Dumps

Diggin-N-Dumps

Gold Member
Sep 9, 2009
6,046
3,781
Fort Worth,Texas
Detector(s) used
CTX 3030 / AT PRO / Etrac w/ NEL
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Thanks for the feedback. I was just curious as I've never done any prospecting with a machine. But I plan on sticking to the beaches and hit some parks while I'm there. Probably will still hit a couple mines, but try my hand in panning lol
 

ColonelDan

Hero Member
Jan 19, 2014
998
2,163
Central Florida
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Deus II
Primary Interest:
Beach & Shallow Water Hunting
If you’re sticking to the beaches and parks, the CTX is your best bet...by far.
 

trdking

Gold Member
Feb 28, 2015
5,139
7,923
Fullerton CA
Detector(s) used
Minelab CTX 3030
AT Pro
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I’ve got a CTX and while it finds gold , in the form of rings and jewelry I don’t think I’d use it in a gold field for nuggets.
Have done some testing in the past with small gold pieces and not good.
I’d get a dedicated gold machine , maybe an 800 as it’s capable of gold nuggets and also coins and relics.
If you can get some small nuggets I’d test and see what you find.
Also make sure your pinpointer will hit the small gold my Garrett wasn’t good for that either.
Good luck in your search
BT
Hey Its Australia, you don't bother with anything less than a 7 pound Nugget!
Joking aside what is said above is true. The CTX does not have a fast enough recovery for specs and flakes. Pretty sure it would heat up a 7 pound nugget though. Good luck to you. Melbourne is a hot spot
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top