Best minelab for streams?

[JoeNC5]

I am looking into getting a new metal detector for Gold prospecting in streams, creeks and such. I discovered minelab has an extensive set of detectors on the market. I would like to buy brand new and keep the price reasonable ($500-$750 usd). I am in an area that I know produces gold so I just want to be able to go out into the streams and find it without getting a lot of the trashy signals. What do you guys recommend (doesn't have to be minelab)?

 

[condor22]

You can reduce the list when you Google by 3 factors;

1. Price as you note,
2. If you want to get it wet, the coil has to be waterproof, and
3. Your looking for a Gold coil not a treasure coil.

Last, it will be a VLF detector, as PI are well above your budget. The specifications will tell you if it's Waterproof.

 

[JoeNC5]

Thanks, condor22, I have watched some of Minelab's YouTube videos and have become more aware of what is available for me. I will consider these things when choosing, thanks again.

 

[grubstake]

Hi, Joe - welcome to PA.

From your reference to USD pricing, I'm assuming that you're a US resident.

If you expect that the entire detector will or could get wet, you need one that has a fully submersible control box, in which case the only nugget-hunting machine in your price range will be the Garrett AT Gold (http://www.detectorprospector.com/g...ent/garrett-at-gold-nugget-metal-detector.htm). It's excellent for your intended use and should be in your price range, as Garrett have recently introduced a new model, so older machines like the AT Gold should be getting cheaper. These are a common US detector and good used ones should also be easy to find, with many owners looking to trade up to the new AT Max.

If you expect that you can keep the detector control box out of the water, with only the coil/cable/shaft submerged, your choices of a suitable used detector are wider. The digital Fisher Gold Bug/Gold Bug Pro (http://www.detectorprospector.com/g...fisher-gold-bug-pro-nugget-metal-detector.htm) would be particularly good for your purpose, as it's a very lightweight machine and would be easy to handle in difficult conditions, but the control box is NOT waterproof (although you could fit a cover so the odd splash shouldn't trouble it).

I wouldn't recommend that you bother with any of the cheap Chinese machines that eBay is so full of nowadays - you need something that's already proven to do the job or you will just waste your time and money.

 

[GaryO]

Goldbug 2 .. the non digital version is definitely the way to go for detecting streams and crevices.
Looking at about $1200 new or $600 -$800 2nd hand . Make sure you get one that includes the 6inch coil. :Y:

 

[GaryO]

Goldbug 2 .. the non digital version is definitely the way to go for detecting streams and crevices.
Looking at about $1200 new or $600 -$800 2nd hand . Make sure you get one that includes the 6inch coil. :Y:

Ps.. the control box is removable and can be waist mounted or hung around your neck to keep it dry.

 

[grubstake]

Fisher Gold Bug-2: http://www.detectorprospector.com/g...t/fisher-gold-bug-2-nugget-metal-detector.htm
These are very sensitive, well-proven gold finders, but unfortunately quite expensive even in the US, so a new one may be outside Joe's budget. Only the coils/cable/shaft are waterproof, but the control box is easily removable, as GaryO says.

 

[condor22]

From Joe's original post, I took a "Stream or Creek" to be something one would wade into up to knee deep, so only the coil needs to be waterproof.

I would imagine that a waterproof control box might also need one to buy scuba tanks, lol

Me being a little sarcastic, apologies...

 

[JoeNC5]

Grubstake - Yes, I am in the USA (North Carolina state). I have owned a Garrett ACE this summer before I sold it, but I think the Garrett AT Gold may be in the running. I am trying to get some nugget action in the streams and also in the mountain area that's forest floor is littered with white quartz rock. The streams that I've worked in and would prospect in the future are only about 2-4 inches of flowing water. Next step is researching my county to find out where the bigger nuggets are located.

 

[Muk]

Save up and get a sdc2300 you will not regret it cheers Muk

 

[GaryO]

A Goldbug brand new is USA is about $750.

 

[grubstake]

Grubstake - Yes, I am in the USA (North Carolina state). I have owned a Garrett ACE this summer before I sold it, but I think the Garrett AT Gold may be in the running. I am trying to get some nugget action in the streams and also in the mountain area that's forest floor is littered with white quartz rock. The streams that I've worked in and would prospect in the future are only about 2-4 inches of flowing water. Next step is researching my county to find out where the bigger nuggets are located.

Those should be easy streams to detect then, Joe. You might be interested in looking at some of the YouTube videos by Mat Brandl, who's successfully worked somewhat similar areas in New Zealand, using a 19kHz digital Fisher Gold Bug with a 5" coil that can easily fit into tight spaces:
https://www.youtube.com/user/1864hatter/videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHQfNM2_OUE

Note that he's not always searching in the actual flowing part of the stream, because where it runs now isn't necessarily where it ran in the past, which is often higher up on today's riverbank. Also, in times of extremely high rainfall/snow melt, 'flood gold' can be deposited well above the usual stream level.

In relation to your mention of white quartz on the the forest floor, be aware that gold is generally less likely to be associated with clean white quartz than it is with dirty, stained, motley-looking quartz. This isn't an infallible guideline, just a prospector's rule of thumb and your particular region may be different. Anything you can find out about historic/present-day mining in the vicinity, will help to give you a picture of the terrain and rock types that may be most prospective there. Good luck!

 

[iamagoldenoldie2]

I'm with MUK get the best first up , the SDC 2300 is my choice I bought mine for dry and wet ground and the beach fold up to a nice back pack size uses the type c cell batteries a garret was on the list but the SDC came up trumps