So, I am planning some videos for this year, and the two videos that have been most requested are:
1. A very small gold shootout type video
2. A larger gold shootout (this is by far the most requested)
I have been wanting to do a larger gold shootout video for some time, but the problem I see is that every gold target is unique, and the detectability of two 10 gram bits can be very different, depending on purity, density, shape, texture etc. Also, how to present the targets. So I'd like to discuss and get your thoughts.
With targets, I think using a consistent benchmark is probably the most meaningful, and I was reading some very old posts last night and came across a post where it was suggested that an Australian 50c coin is the closest to 1 ounce gold (on average). The beauty of this is that others can repeat the tests and while there will be other variables, at least the targets will be consistent. There has already been playing with 50c coins last year, so I think that is a well established reference.
The 5c coin is another good one, and I have used a 5c coin as a quick check on GP/GPX machines for years. Using an 11" Mono, about 36cm on a GP machine, 37/38cm on a GPX 4000/4500, and up to 39cm in Fine Gold on the 5000. (These are all just from memory, haven't really checked in a while).
So, 50c, 5c, and the logical one in between is the 10c coin.
Now how to present targets. There are advantages and disadvantages of all of the following methods:
1. Ground balance and place coil on ground and sweep target over the coil - probably the easiest, but doesn't take ground signal into effect, apart from the initial ground balance.
2. Dig a hole and bury the target at a specific depth - main problem with this is not being able to alter the target depth. Also a little time consuming digging multiple holes, and also each hole is in different ground.
3. Dig a trench at an angle in the ground, place a tube in there and push the dirt back in. This is a good method apart from the fact that a section of the ground is disturbed. But at least all surrounding ground is still natural, and you can alter the target depth very easily
4. The other method which allows sweeping the coil over the ground with zero disturbance, but still allowing you to alter target depth is by suspending the target above the coil. The coils search field is still doing the same thing it normally does, and whatever is happening to the field under the coil should be the same as above it.
I think 4 is probably the best, and the good part is that is can be done anywhere with relative ease, just need a simple method of suspending the target - even a leaning tree branch will do. Just not sure how others feel? Would you be happier with option 3 with the target under the dirt??
Keen to hear your thoughts on this, and is there another common target I should use? I don't want anything super big.
1. A very small gold shootout type video
2. A larger gold shootout (this is by far the most requested)
I have been wanting to do a larger gold shootout video for some time, but the problem I see is that every gold target is unique, and the detectability of two 10 gram bits can be very different, depending on purity, density, shape, texture etc. Also, how to present the targets. So I'd like to discuss and get your thoughts.
With targets, I think using a consistent benchmark is probably the most meaningful, and I was reading some very old posts last night and came across a post where it was suggested that an Australian 50c coin is the closest to 1 ounce gold (on average). The beauty of this is that others can repeat the tests and while there will be other variables, at least the targets will be consistent. There has already been playing with 50c coins last year, so I think that is a well established reference.
The 5c coin is another good one, and I have used a 5c coin as a quick check on GP/GPX machines for years. Using an 11" Mono, about 36cm on a GP machine, 37/38cm on a GPX 4000/4500, and up to 39cm in Fine Gold on the 5000. (These are all just from memory, haven't really checked in a while).
So, 50c, 5c, and the logical one in between is the 10c coin.
Now how to present targets. There are advantages and disadvantages of all of the following methods:
1. Ground balance and place coil on ground and sweep target over the coil - probably the easiest, but doesn't take ground signal into effect, apart from the initial ground balance.
2. Dig a hole and bury the target at a specific depth - main problem with this is not being able to alter the target depth. Also a little time consuming digging multiple holes, and also each hole is in different ground.
3. Dig a trench at an angle in the ground, place a tube in there and push the dirt back in. This is a good method apart from the fact that a section of the ground is disturbed. But at least all surrounding ground is still natural, and you can alter the target depth very easily
4. The other method which allows sweeping the coil over the ground with zero disturbance, but still allowing you to alter target depth is by suspending the target above the coil. The coils search field is still doing the same thing it normally does, and whatever is happening to the field under the coil should be the same as above it.
I think 4 is probably the best, and the good part is that is can be done anywhere with relative ease, just need a simple method of suspending the target - even a leaning tree branch will do. Just not sure how others feel? Would you be happier with option 3 with the target under the dirt??
Keen to hear your thoughts on this, and is there another common target I should use? I don't want anything super big.
