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Because most gold nuggets are tiny, and are usually found in soil which is
high in iron oxide minerals, serious gold prospecting requires a detector with
high sensitivity and true ground balanced All Metal operation. Run the
machine with the sensitivity high enough to hear some noise from ground
minerals, and
learn the language of the sounds you hear. Headphones are
recommended unless consideration for safety (for instance rattlesnakes) rules
them out. Move the searchcoil slowly and deliberately, carefully controlling its
height above the ground to minimize noise from iron minerals in the soil. If you
hear ground noise, your GND BAL setting could be a bit off, so perform the
ground balancing procedure again. As you walk even a very short distance,
ground conditions can change. The ground geology typically associated with
gold will tend to change over very short distances.
The Fe
3
O
4
bar graph indicates the amount of iron mineralization in the soil. In
most gold fields, especially alluvial (placer) deposits, gold tends to be
associated with iron minerals, especially magnetite
black sand. If you know
this to be the case in the area you're working, you can maximize your gold
recovery by concentrating your effort on areas where the bar graph indicates
higher amounts of iron mineralization.
Gold prospectors are mostly a friendly bunch, and willing to spend some time
showing a beginner how to increase his odds of finding the yellow stuff. Many
will invite you to search on their claims (if they have any) once they get to know
you. In some gold areas, a lot of the terrain is under claim, so you need to
learn how to recognize posted claims and stay off of them unless you have the
claim owner's permission. Prospecting clubs such as the Gold Prospector
Association of America (GPAA) often own claims which are open to its
members and sponsor group outings to productive gold prospecting areas.
It’s a thrilling experience to dig into the ground and pull out a precious piece of
yellow metal that you are the first person on earth to see. If you love being
outdoors, have patience, and can stay motivated by the prospect of finding
that next nugget, then
beeping for gold may be the hobby for you. While only
a few get rich prospecting, if you are not among them, think of it as outdoor
recreation where your finds defray the expense of having fun!
GOLD PROSPECTING
OPERATION & CONTROLS
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