Newbie needs help: Help me figure out what this means...

[DaneMom]

I was out digging today and my detector gave me a signal all the way to the right, 4 inches down. So, I proceeded to dig. I got to around 4 inches and got my pinpointer out and it would signal and vibrate in the dirt pile and the hole I was digging. I would pick up a handful of dirt and it would signal then I would continue to sift it through my fingers and see nothing and eventually I would just have a little bit of dirt and it would stopping beeping. Put the pointer back in the dirt pile beep. I found NOTHING in my dirt pile or the hole. I dug down to about 8 inches didn't find anything and gave up. This happen in several different holes.
So, could it be the soil beeping for some reason? I am in NC and digging in classic red clay soil that is here in my area. Or would it be decayed out metal in flakes off something? I am just getting very frustrated with my MD and pinpointer at this point! Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!~A

 

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[CincinnatiKid]

I've had rust "residue" from deeply buried iron disrupt target acquisition. The residue seems to seep through wet ground?
Others, much more knowledgeable, will hopefully precisely answer.
GL
Peace ✌

 

[Nugs Bunny]

I live in Ohio next to an old iron ore mine, I have had the same thing happen in my yard due to high areas mineralization. When you dig it breaks up the deposit and that is why the readings stop and nothing is in the hole.

Ground balancing and learning the machine will make all the difference in the World. A better coil can help a lot too.

 

[CarolinaCurt]

Hi DaneMom,
Ground balancing is the key and since you may be new to MDing,reading your owners manual on ground balancing and then taking the manual with you to the same site will help. Once you have arrived at the site, locate one of the holes that gave you the positive signal and by following the instructions in your manual you should be able to eliminate the problem. In most cases with Garrett machines, ground balancing over the "hot rock or hot soil" will eliminate this problem.
I hope this helps. Happy Hunting!!!!

 

[JunkShopFiddler]

Hey DM, You mentioned your detector signaled, "all the way to the right". On the 250 all the way right is silver dollar range, is it not? How often is your detector signalling all the way right? I have used several Garretts and have not found much in the way of coins or jewellery digging all the way right signals so I usually ignore them. They are usually junk too big to worry about unless you are hunting iron relics. You didn't mention where your sensitivity is set. Try turning it down notch by notch and check your next all the way right signal target hole to see if maybe the sensitivity was set too high.

Something else to think about is go very, very slowly into the hole with the pinpointer. If the signal increases as you slowly go downward then the target is in the bottom of the hole. If the signal stays the same as you slowly lower the pinpointer into the hole then the target is in the side of the hole. If it's in the side then run the pinpointer around the sides of the hole to find it.

If these ideas don't work call the Garrett Tech support and ask them about it. They are really good...happy hunting in 2015!

 

[Nugs Bunny]

I would pick up a handful of dirt and it would signal then I would continue to sift it through my fingers and see nothing and eventually I would just have a little bit of dirt and it would stopping beeping. Put the pointer back in the dirt pile beep. I found NOTHING in my dirt pile or the hole.

Small bits of wire or remnants of old rotted fencing can be had to see. Try a good magnet and some type of classifier to sift through it. Small bits of copper wire or bullet fragments set my detector and pinpointer off, sometimes they are hard to find.

Try turning your pin pointer down a little, if you still cannot find any metal fragments then you may not be ground balancing the machine properly. I'm not familiar with Garret detectors so I'm not much help there.

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

Take your machine to a few other sites, where the soil is maybe cleaner. If you have the same problem again and again at different sites then I hope you have a warranty.

Keep @ it and HH !!

 

[airscapes]

Take a read here, it should explain it. Halo Effect
A 1/4" long rusty brad can do this and is VERY hard to find with a pinpointer and even harder to see..

 

[DaneMom]

Thanks everyone!!

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Your best bet is to hook up with a proficient user in your area. Trade off flagged signals to compare. And ... like ... if the ghost phenomenom pinpoint thing that you speak of occurs, call him over to test the spot. Watch how he swings. Listen to what he's listening for. Watch how he retrieves. And if he says "it's nothing, skip it", find out why. Ie.: WHY does he say it's a false signal that your mistaking for an actual one? Etc... There's nothing in printed text (that you can read from any of ours answers) that will replace in person visual/auditory lessons like this. Printed text can never do justice.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Hello Everyone,

Very nice thread! I had a hole like you have describe, turned out to be the small bird shot pellet. The size was equal to the object between the parenthesis (o). A little frustrating, but I was relieved after the pellet was found - I wasn't crazy. By the way, it happened on an ACE 250 while teaching someone how to use the machine.

Regards