Accidently discovered the best relic hunting

[Holly_squirrel]

I picked the grossest day to go detecting and made an interesting discovery. It's 40 degrees, it poured for 2 days, then snowed. So everything is mushy cold , worst conditions to be digging in muck. But strangely , I went over ground I've covered before. And one after another I got hit after hit. Everything that was a heavy metal or iron showed up iron and only iron. Normally it's all over tbe place and makes it appear to be nails or junk. But today is was dead on and obvious when I hit on a relic. Why is that?

 

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[cntrydncr1]

wet ground conducts the metal better. you will find things you missed before!

 

[Peyton Manning]

you must be in a warm spot in pa cause only about 2 inches are soft here in indy, I don't see how you can dig yet

 

[Holly_squirrel]

wet ground conducts the metal better. you will find things you missed before!

It was like magic... Messy magic

 

[LinkHylian]

Messy magic haha, that got me laughin'. Hopefully you'll start going hunting right after it rains now that you know the conductivity tip.

Great avatar pic btw, you look really great.
HH!!

 

[Ism]

Nit sure I understand your comment. Were you able to discern iron/ferrous from non-ferrous relics (or) got a better/deeper signal on iron targets that can be considered relics also?

 

[Normsel]

I go to places I have detected in the past when the ground is wet and always seem to find quite a bit more. I am going out in the morning and the ground is still pretty wet from the weekend rain here in St Louis area

 

[Peyton Manning]

Messy magic haha, that got me laughin'. Hopefully you'll start going hunting right after it rains now that you know the conductivity tip.

Great avatar pic btw, you look really great.
HH!!

pssssst don't go there Link ( just saying)

 

[Holly_squirrel]

Nit sure I understand your comment. Were you able to discern iron/ferrous from non-ferrous relics (or) got a better/deeper signal on iron targets that can be considered relics also?

Well basically my whole yard lit up and I got solid iron signals ... In about 20 minutes I had unearthed Ten differnt iron peices. Course most ended up being nails... But some were hooks and misc. farm parts. I just never had such reliable signals ever .

 

[Holly_squirrel]

Messy magic haha, that got me laughin'. Hopefully you'll start going hunting right after it rains now that you know the conductivity tip.

Great avatar pic btw, you look really great.
HH!!

Thank you

 

[GrizLeeBear]

Most people underestimate the importance of soil make up and conditions when metal detecting. I am in a spot now where pennies always show up like a nail would. I've never had that happen before. It is very hard baked desert soil with a lot of rocks and stones. Whenever I move to a new spot I know I will have to adjust the way I read the signals from my detector. Wet soil is different from dry. Clay is different from sand. Soil matters.

 

[Ism]

Well basically my whole yard lit up and I got solid iron signals ... In about 20 minutes I had unearthed Ten differnt iron peices. Course most ended up being nails... But some were hooks and misc. farm parts. I just never had such reliable signals ever .

Has a lot to do with the rust disseminating into the soil around the object. Makes it appear larger when the soil is wet. also gives the appearance of a higher conductor when in "disc" mode.
You have a lot of patience, I hate digging iron unless cache hunting and even then its been a disapointment.

On another note, I find that there is better target seperation (ability to distinguish different targets near each other), in "low mineral" soil when the earth is dry. R
Rusty ferrous metals produces a huge halo effect. Non-ferrous not so much. So when in an area with a lot of nails/iron targets, I prefer it to be dry so that I can find the non-ferrous in the midst of the ferrous.
However wet soil seems to allow for deeper target detection for all metals. Ergo, your yard lit up.

 

[jayg]

I know what u mean by messy. I'm im Michigan and it was raining yesterday. I got out for 15-20 minutes. I found a wheat (1955). Depending on the detector. It is easier to find a object but harder to pinpoint it's exact location. That's my experience anyway. gdlk & HH

 

[CoilyGirl]

Sometimes even approaching a target from a different side can give a totally different signal which sounds totally crazy,like when a coin is turned up on end. I'm desperate to find anything,haven't been in so long and glad you were able to produce some more from your yard.

 

[Holly_squirrel]

Has a lot to do with the rust disseminating into the soil around the object. Makes it appear larger when the soil is wet. also gives the appearance of a higher conductor when in "disc" mode.
You have a lot of patience, I hate digging iron unless cache hunting and even then its been a disapointment.

On another note, I find that there is better target seperation (ability to distinguish different targets near each other), in "low mineral" soil when the earth is dry. R
Rusty ferrous metals produces a huge halo effect. Non-ferrous not so much. So when in an area with a lot of nails/iron targets, I prefer it to be dry so that I can find the non-ferrous in the midst of the ferrous.
However wet soil seems to allow for deeper target detection for all metals. Ergo, your yard lit up.

I'm pretty much scared to Not dig up anything that gives a strong signal . In fear of missing something good... Basically I just skip the erratic signals. But it is a bummer spending 15 minutes and finding yet another nail. Plus my 2 acres looks like I got gophers and my husband is getting annoyed.. Lol. So I sneak and do it, I feel like a criminal... Lol

 

[Holly_squirrel]

I know what u mean by messy. I'm im Michigan and it was raining yesterday. I got out for 15-20 minutes. I found a wheat (1955). Depending on the detector. It is easier to find a object but harder to pinpoint it's exact location. That's my experience anyway. gdlk & HH

It is total wet red heavy soil , covered in slushy snow... Yet I'll dig alittle today. My detector looks like a muddy stick though

 

[jayg]

don't give up. I've been frustrated . Just concentrate on the higher hits like dimes, quarters and so on. Find a park close to you. even if it's not a old park your sure to find coins. doing this will help you recognize what to dig and what not to. if i dug up all the iron hits I'd probably hate md'ing . Just have fun and if u get frustrated take a brake. not saying u do,but if you expect to find good stuff all of the time you will be disappointed. Speaking from my experience. When i go out i set a goal of trying to find a wheat penny. if i don't then the next time i know what are not to try next. good luck & HH

 

[jayg]

last sentence typo (i know where not to try looking) long day sorry lol

 

[ZR2guy]

I have hunted areas with dry soil and go back again after a good rain in the same spots and find even more.Conductivity is better in wet soil.Have you checked the history in your area, more specifically your property?Sometimes an area that has a concentration of iron (nails,relics) is a good sign there may have been an old house/cabin there. This is a good thing.Any pics of your finds?
Good luck, sounds like you are having fun.

 

[jayg]

what state are you in? with red soil? az has red dirt. I use google map,pick a park and study the Ariel view and pick places like that. I also feel out of place sometimes. I've always had a keep to my self and friends state of mind. So when I do go to parks I always do go during times the park is more empty. But when I'm doing good that makes me not care who is there at the park. md'ing is something we like to do. So enjoy and do not, or try to ignore that feeling of out of place. It's sometimes hard for me. But it's getting better. gd lk & hh