BigWave said:
Rodge Runner wrote: "But most fine Gold is normally just below the surface so you don't need Depth / Power".
I disagree........
1. Just because our detectors can't find deep small gold, doesn't mean that it's not deep. I'm sure much fine gold would be deeper than we can detect.
We miss the deeper fine bits and find shallower bits, so incorrectly come to the conclusion that fine gold is shallow.
2. I also think that many larger/deeper targets have likely been removed by other machines GPXs etc which missed the tiny bits, further giving the impression that small gold is always shallow as the bigger gold has gone deeper - no, was just found by different machines.
3. I find small gravels (inc sand) along with larger gravels sitting on clays etc at depth. Given that these silicates have a SG around 1/7 of gold, it is clear that even fine gold would also be around that depth.
4. Much fine glod is found in mullock heaps hauled from the depths.
The conclusion should be that: "detectable fine gold is shallow".
So I think that you do need as much depth and power as you can get - ground permitting.
I'm not against VLFs, but just need to set the record straight.
Well if that is the case then why does the SDC find most of the tiny gold near the surface within the top 2 or 3 inches, Also in areas where the bedrock is close to the surface you don't need a deep machine anyway because once you get down to the rock you can't dig any deeper anyway and any metals that are within those top few inches will be picked up by most High Gain VLF's.
I agree about in the deeper soils, But if it is fine Gold then it has to be dug up with a digger and run through a dry washer etc, and if it is that deep then no detector is going to find it anyway, Even the mighty Zed has it's limits, And in shallow bedrock areas a VLF used right will do ok,
When searching where the rock is close to the surface where it gets stuck in cracks and things the detector is sort of Air testing the targets and as such a VLF will reach out a long way where it is not having to go through the ground/dirt. and under those conditions a VLF will not only be more sensitive it will sniff out targets in the rocks pretty deep because they are not buried nor in the Air.
And not all ground in Oz is highly mineralized, Quite a lot of it is but most of it is not. and a Good VLF in the right hands will match or beat a PI in lesser soil conditions As my Sovereign GT did with the standard 10" BBS coil compared to my GP 3500 with the 11" factory DD fitted,
I have no doubts that the GM 1000 is more than up to the task in hand, But it is not a Hot Soil Machine, And from the pictures posted on this thread it more than holds it's own,
Horses for courses and all that,
) I didnt want one that was too basic, however, as this detector needs to carry me until I can afford a more expensive one.
