The effect of frozen ground and detecting

[Ahab]

I have heard various statements regarding the effect of frozen ground on Detecting. Some say it enhances the signal others says it throws it off target and even distorts the signal.
Not talking about digging here, the effect on that should be obvious. So whats your thoughts.
Does it help or hinder? and why?

 

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[Sandman]

First you have to determine frozen ground, where? All ground is not the same regardless of the temperature. Frozen ground has moisture in it and moisture enhances the signal due to a larger halo.

 

[rjw4law]

Depends how frozen....do you need a chisel to break the upper crust of the frozen tundra?

 

[mick56]

The ground here has been frozen for a while. I don't see that it would make a big difference finding targets, but I don't detect in the winter. Would be very difficult to chisel out a coin, not worth it to me. I'll wait till spring.

 

[oldhermit34]

It makes it easier to find but you work like a dog to retrieve it.

 

[49er12]

Interesting topic even years later, moisture in ground then frozen will open up the ground in some small way expanding the word, locating and digging in hard ground yes is hard, best place is in wooded areas the ground isn’t frozen tundra and easier to dig, thanks

 

[TheGreenBoy]

I am searching for large targets using my PI in winter time quite a lot, due to low vegetation which makes navigateing the 1.2m x 1m frame coil a lot easier. The crust gets usually frozen up to 1/2m rarely more, ofently less. I have never noticed any difference in detection depth, dough. The low snow (som 10cm) doesn't matter much either, unless it reenders the area unaccesible. The low temperatures, however, might reender the batteries temporary unusable.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Hereabouts the frozen ground does not seem to matter. Wet soil is usually a bit favorable to dry, and frozen is more likely "wet".

Digging is the problem. Not worth ruining a potentially nice coin by smashing away at the hole with a pickaxe.

Also 18" of snow cover can spoil the fun as your signal hardly reaches the ground.

 

[NowandThenTreasures]

5+ years ago I took my old Garrett Ace 350 out in below zero temps in heavy snow after my mother in law slipped on the ice in the dark and lost her apartment & car keys. I found the keys buried in the snow the next day no problem with my detector. I was curious how the detector would work in harsh conditions and it worked just fine.