California Dreaming

[TrinityBigfoot]

I have been out metal detecting for gold a few times and have had no luck. I usually try to dig everything the detector sounds off on. I have hypothetical question. I don't want this to turn into a brand bashing thing or any brand specific thing. What's the potential depth of finding 5lb+ gold nuggets with Vlf type detector? Would it be possible to get a signal from large chunk of gold at 14-16 inches? (From a Vlf detector). I have been trying to find a large piece of lead to test my detectors with. What's your thoughts?

 

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[auferret]

I look forward to the responses as I have wondered the same thing. You can buy lead dive weights at a dive shop or on line.

 

[TrinityBigfoot]

After reading around some I read about The Hand of Faith Nugget. It was 875 oz's and was found with a Metal Detector. The story says it was about 8" deep. I would suspect that a modern quality detector should be able to handle an large chuck of gold at 12+ inches.

 

[Goldwasher]

From recent reports it will sound like a big piece of trash..Dig it all!!!!!!

 

[Goldwasher]

I should also add that with both my old goldmaster and my GB Pro I have found beer/soda cans at 12" +

 

[bigscoop]

I'm thinking mineralization would be a big factor.

 

[63bkpkr]

875 oz's is a lot of mineralization. sorry I just could not stop myself...................63bkpkr

 

[Hard Prospector]

Rumor has it that the 5 pound Butte Nugget was found with a VLF (if anyone knows for sure what detector it was please sound off)

 

[TrinityBigfoot]

Not really looking to place any detector over another. However that's kind of the information I was looking for. It's good to know that all of us with a VLF's still have a chance.

 

[californiagold]

if you want to know how far a big nugget can be detected it depends on a million factors. but i have dug bigger nuggets over a foot. try standing 6-8 foot from your vehicle and wave it past. guess if the nugget was as big as a truck door. it would pick it up at 6-8 feet. i also dug a 3/4 barrel lid a couple feet before with gb 2 . thought it might be a mining relic. lol

 

[beekbuster]

i dont doubt a vlf would detect a pounder a foot deep, my question is would it trick the discrimination on a vlf? for example the fors gold, would it give a low tone because of the overwhelming signal?

 

[TrinityBigfoot]

The more I think about this I think that one would get a nice overload signal. Once I dug an quarter at 11". I thought for sure it was a silver quarter.... It was a 1966. That was over the summer at a lake bed that was down about 150". That was also in a discriminate mode. A all metal mode should give slightly better depth. I need to test this with lead...

 

[californiagold]

nope, wont trick any discrimination. it would be a strong signal still at a foot deep. if it was on fors gold or gold bug pro. it would be a higher target id like 70-80 because of size. small gold,lead,brass,foil,copper,etc
go off 40's target id. little bigger 50-60's even bigger 70-90. it would never go off like iron. if you are using d-3 mode on fors gold. gold will be a low tone. silver high tone. but with fors if the nugget is big enough it will ring off at a high tone like silver because the target id will be above 80. ive tried it with some of my bigger gold from the past. iron in d-3 mode will grunt. so you dig the low and high tones not grunts. unless it grunts and beeps a low tone. it could be a piece of gold that is deeper. almost out of range. so the detector can tell yet on a consistent signal. good luck

 

[beekbuster]

i noticed in boost mode you can tell the difference between coins/foil etc. and lead (havnt found gold yet) the lead is a softer tone, as i would think gold gives an identical signal. still dig all the high tones though, and all deep signals low or high. thought i finally had one. pulled it out of a bedrock crack. the lead "nugget" was shaped perfectly, but after a scratch test knew not to get my hopes up. should start saving the lead for recycling, the weight adds up fast and they do pay a decent price