GTI1500 or CZ-3d

[TREETOPPER]

Ok , I know neither of these detectors are made specifically for prospecting but have the capability. Can you explain why one would be better than the other for finding gold in mineralized soil.

[Willy]

The CZ3D would be the better detector for prospecting. I've used a CZ6a and found a whack of nuggets with it and also had a GTI 1500. The CZ's have a true all-metal mode, which the GTI 1500 lacks. There's a considerable depth/sensitivity difference between the AM and Disc. modes. The GTI 1500 has ground tracking, which is nice, but is more susceptible to mineralisation overloads and can track out a nugget. The GTI 2500 would be superior to the 1500, by a long shot, for nugget hunting. ..Willy.

[TREETOPPER]

Hey Willy,
If the AM mode is what makes the difference between the two for prospecting,there are alot of MD's out there that have this feature and are less expensive.I did see a CZ-5 on ebay for a whole lot cheaper. Would it be considered equally the same in your opinion.

[thompy]

the cz also operates in 2 frequency's one is higher than the gti, more sensitive to gold

[Willy]

The CZ5 is basically a CZ6 without the weatherproofing and with a speaker. I think that the salt mode on the CZ's are better than on the GTI's. Actually, if you're going to use your detector for prospecting, you'd be better off getting an MXT or (if you have the cash) an XTerra70.. both of which would blow away the CZ's and GTI's for prospecting. Used MXT's can be found on the classified forums at decent prices and I've seen a few X70's. Don't make the mistake of skimping out if you're going to get a detector that can serve as a good prospecting unit. While any detector can find gold, you'd want to maximise your chances.. even if it's small gold. Many places don't have honkin' nuggets and hunting them with most detectors would be a waste of time. You can also pick up used LST's at reasonable prices, but I don't like the "always on" AM ground tracking and the rudimentary disc. system. I've used full on prospecting units (LST, XT1800, GMT, GB 1) and find that the MXT and (so far) the X70 can give them a run for thier money. ..Willy.

[TREETOPPER]

Hey Willy,

I thought about getting the MXT but would i be giving up sensitivity and depth on coins because it's dual purpose.I mean if it would be close to the same as the CZ-3d capabilities with coin shooting that would be great. I know that the prospecting mode with the MXT works great .I just dont want to give up to much with the coin shooting, a little would be fine it's just that you hear all the time that you give up something like sensitivity ,depth or whatever with dual purpose Md's, but you never here how much comparably. Thank you for the replies.

[Willy]

I used an MXT for a couple of years for both prospecting and coin/relic hunting and found that it did as good as most specialty detectors for both. You must factor in that both the MXT and X70 are DSP based detectors and a lot of the coin hunting capability is software dependent. The MXT doesn't average the signal, which makes it kinda jumpy, but that relates more to preference than real world performance. The X70 is much better re. coin/ring hunting, having multitone and an effective notch system. Both of them have exceedingly good all-metal performance that is in the same league as the dedicated prospecting units. The MXT shares the same electronics platform (and most of the features) as the "top of the line" GMT gold detector.. just operating at a lower frequency. The X70 AM mode is at least as sensitive as the original Gold Bug (possibly moreso) with gound tracking and adjustable iron mask. So far, with in-ground tests, the X70 won't track out my 3 grain test nugget, giving a strong signal, and will easily pick it up with the iron mask at maximum. With both detectors I've often picked up targets (coin sized) that were deeper than I wanted to dig in disc. mode; this is in heavily mineralised ground. ..Willy.

[TREETOPPER]

I used an MXT for a couple of years for both prospecting and coin/relic hunting and found that it did as good as most specialty detectors for both. You must factor in that both the MXT and X70 are DSP based detectors and a lot of the coin hunting capability is software dependent. The MXT doesn't average the signal, which makes it kinda jumpy, but that relates more to preference than real world performance. The X70 is much better re. coin/ring hunting, having multitone and an effective notch system. Both of them have exceedingly good all-metal performance that is in the same league as the dedicated prospecting units. The MXT shares the same electronics platform (and most of the features) as the "top of the line" GMT gold detector.. just operating at a lower frequency. The X70 AM mode is at least as sensitive as the original Gold Bug (possibly moreso) with gound tracking and adjustable iron mask. So far, with in-ground tests, the X70 won't track out my 3 grain test nugget, giving a strong signal, and will easily pick it up with the iron mask at maximum. With both detectors I've often picked up targets (coin sized) that were deeper than I wanted to dig in disc. mode; this is in heavily mineralised ground. ..Willy.

Hey Willie,
I just wanted to make sure you ment 3grains and not 3grams.

[Willy]

Yup!.. 3 grains. ...Willy.

[Bebop]

I have a White's Goldmaster II I used for looking for fine gold. My larges gold nuggett with it is 19 grains and my smallest piece was .5 grains my test piece is .9 grains. For bigger nugget like 4grains and bigger I use a minelab sd2100. I buried a test coin that wade 25 grains and was 13mm OD. at 10" deep and no problems, that test was done in Quartzsite AZ. I use my sd2100 on the beach, it does the best.