Garrett ATX finds everything, EXCEPT GOLD? (video linked)

[adamb81]

Picked up a Garrett ATX. Somewhat new to MD'ing but I'm well aware of and willing to take the time for the learning curve. Noticed a hiccup at the beach at first. It would give a tone at the end of every swing, high tone to the left and low tone to the right (or vice versa). Nothing I did would eliminate it. Nonetheless it still found small fish hooks etc. close to the surface.
Yesterday I went to an area known to yield small gold nuggets. After the scan and GB it still acted a bit sporadic. Decided to do a little test on a gold bracelet. To my surprise, no reaction! Sensitivity 10, threshold 7.5, disc 0. You can see the details in the video as well, link below. Batteries were also fully charged, ground was mineralized. Test was done with ground balancing on the ground and air. Same results each time. Any ideas? All input will be immensely appreciated.
https://youtu.be/oqyYQ1C2lOQ

 

[WaterWalker]

The tones at each end of the sweep are caused by two things, you are lifting one edge of the coil and reversing the swing speed/direction.

The only thing you do not mention is ground tracking. It should be OFF, see page 17 of the manual.

Try putting the chain on the ground, and swinging the coil over the chain, not swinging the chain in the air.
The detector "sees" each link as a target, not the entire length at one time.

Try the above and let us know your results.

 

[adamb81]

Thanks for the input, much appreciated. No ground tracking was used on this. It was off the entire time. The initial test was done with the chain on the ground and it gave no signal at all. Not even the faintest. Tried with the chain balled up as well as stretched out to its full length. It was then then that i decided to lay it down and take a video. It was fairly disheartening after driving 2 hours one way only to find it wasn't picking up gold.

As far as the tones at the end of each swing on the beach, I'm rather certain the coil was held level, and at a consistent height, from the ground. I usually make an effort to monitor my swing habits as i go. I did, however, fail to mention that the tones at the end of the swings only happen over sand with higher mineral content (black sand) and in saltwater. No amount of adjustment changed anything. Frequency scan also did not help.

thank you again for the advice!

 

[Booty Hunter]

Wow, not sure what to say about the gold. What were the results when you turned up the sensitivity? I have to deal with the tones at the end of the swings all the time. Depends on the salt water conditions at the time.

 

[adamb81]

Thanks, good to hear about the salt water conditions. Was unsure if it was normal as I've never seen anything regarding this despite extensive research online.
To answer your question about sensitivity, it goes pretty well ape shit when the sensitivity is turned up. It does, however, give a very faint response but that response is very easy to miss since it disappears amidst the constant noise produced from the ATX at higher sensitivity levels in the gold bearing areas I'd usually go to. I'm wondering if this unit may be defective or even a counterfeit.
Once again, I appreciate everyone's help. Not having used forums much, it's a pleasant surprise to see how many are actually willing to help. Thanks everyone

 

[Booty Hunter]

You should give it another try but use a small nugget instead of the chain to test it out. I know what you mean about turning up the sensitivity, so you know it's working. If I can find some time and a small gold chain, I'll test mine out. And a note on the tones at the end of the swing, sometimes mine does it and sometimes it doesn't. I have come to believe that it depends on the conditions of the day. Maybe more salt in the water, more minerals in the sand , etc. You will learn to ignore it once you get used to how it hits on real targets. Then again, I'm not looking for small nuggets. But on rings, pull tabs, nickles, the signals are loud and clear.

 

[WaterWalker]

Because the detector "sees" each piece of gold in the chain as a target, you should expect to get a ratty signal instead of one nice tone as a ring would give.
As I do 99% of my detcting with the ATX under water...my response was with what I experience in salt water, not on soil.
You should b able to detect the bracelet, but if all else fails, contact Garrett, they are great for "fixing" problems whether setup, mechanical, or electronic.

 

[Mega]

Fine gold chain are surprisingly hard for a detector too lock onto for some reason and this is not because of anything wrong with the detector,it also happens with VLF machine and other makes of Pulse machines,if the chain had a decent clasp on it or a charm then it it should hit it as it should do.Solid gold rings and other larger chunky chains then you should have no trouble.

Not sure why it happens but fine gold chain are particular bad with detectors,as someone has mentioned its does not see the whole chain but the links,but if the clasp or even a charm on it was bigger then it will pick it up,i use a few Pulse machines including the TDI Pro with small specialist coils and also VLF machines with small coils and still have problems with my other halves fine gold chain but the bigger ones it bangs on them all the time.

Small natural gold like say nuggets dont have problems either,some detectors like the Compadre seem to like micro gold but i personally think they would struggle with fine chains as well.

 

[adamb81]

Good advice guys, thanks again. I'll do more tests with it here soon. As for the chain, it did have a clasp on it that is larger than the links so I'd have assumed it would've picked it up. Will keep you guys posted with the results of further testing. Worse case scenario I can call garrett and go from there. Thanks again!