Can bands of black sand cause false signals?

[OBXmetalDet]

Last week I was at the Outer Banks and I just can't tell if bands of black sand was causing false signals.

 

[pepperj]

Last week I was at the Outer Banks and I just can't tell if bands of black sand was causing false signals.

What detector were you using when you had this issue?
I do know the early models of detectors had serious issues with black sand.

 

[achanceforgold]

Last week I was at the Outer Banks and I just can't tell if bands of black sand was causing false signals.

I believe they can. In fact some metal detector companies cover the subject. I thought I watched a video or two on how to hround balance for that.
You may want to google your detector and black sand videos.

 

[OBXmetalDet]

What detector were you using when you had this issue?
I do know the early models of detectors had serious issues with black sand.

Minelab Equinox 800.

 

[OBXmetalDet]

I believe they can. In fact some metal detector companies cover the subject. I thought I watched a video or two on how to hround balance for that.
You may want to google your detector and black sand videos.

Sometimes it appeared to give a signal, but not always, so I don't know what to think.

 

[achanceforgold]

Sometimes it appeared to give a signal, but not always, so I don't know what to think.

We have a mining company near us. Called Chemours in Jesup Ga.
They mine the black sand.
It has something called Ilmenite in it.
Which is titanium based.
But depending on the quantity of the Ilmenite it can have a magnetic signal.
Like magnetite.

https://www.chemours.com/en/about-chemours/global-reach/wayne-county

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Depends on how you encounter it. Hunting in very shallow surf the black sand can cause false signals as it rolls over your coil.

 

[cudamark]

Last week I was at the Outer Banks and I just can't tell if bands of black sand was causing false signals.

Yes, and loss of depth too. Usually a PI machine will do better in black sand depending on the actual metal/mineral makeup of the black sand.

 

[CASPER-2]

Yes, and loss of depth too. Usually a PI machine will do better in black sand depending on the actual metal/mineral makeup of the black sand.

my whites PI used to do great in it
My Fisher CZs have never had a problem
my old land machines - pre2000 models always did

 

[Terry Soloman]

Yes, the Equinox can false on black sand especially in a heavy salt environment. On another forum I am on that focuses on Gold Prospecting, this is an ongoing topic. It seems that it can be overcome through settings. I'll ask if I can get permission to copy and paste to this thread.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Yes, the Equinox can false on black sand especially in a heavy salt environment. On another forum I am on that focuses on Gold Prospecting, this is an ongoing topic. It seems that it can be overcome through settings. I'll ask if I can get permission to copy and paste to this thread.

You can post the info, just not a link or the name of the forum.

 

[OBXmetalDet]

Thank you everybody. A few times I would dig in wet sand pretty deep and get signals. Sometimes I couldn't regenerate the signal and other times when I could, I would dig and find nothing.

I guess knowing this will help save me some time in the future.

 

[cudamark]

Coil control is very important in that situation too. You bump the black sand and it will set off the detector, as will bobbing the coil. A nice, slow, even swing works the best.

 

[OBXmetalDet]

Coil control is very important in that situation too. You bump the black sand and it will set off the detector, as will bobbing the coil. A nice, slow, even swing works the best.

I think I've noticed this but I wasn't sure if this was a thing. Now I know.

Thank you.