How well does the exterra 705 do on gold?

[amcjavelin]

i usually don't come into this neck of the woods but i'm really curroius about this model of minelab and just how good is it on gold and how small sre you guys detecting it? and what kind of depth as well?

 

[7centsworth]

Never used it for gold , some on here have. But you are always welcome to stop by and see what is going on. I do on the tesoro forum alot. We are all in it for the same things and that is the finds.

 

[David]

What applies to the X-70 can also be applied to the X-705.

Exterra 70 micro gold
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?55,1232785

More Micro Gold with Exterra 70
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?55,1236340

I contacted Minelab and was told that the Prospecting Mode on the X-70 is about the exact same as the performance of the Eureka Gold. But of course set at 20 kHz on the Eureka Gold which also has more adjustments.

=>A compendium of BT posts on prospecting with the X70.<=
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?55,496336,496336#msg-496336

New X-TERRA 70 Video - Prospecting and HF DD Coil Uses - AUG 2008
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?55,795126,795126#msg-795126

5x10" DD/HF Coil and the 6" DD/HF Coil - Visible Differences
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?55,677361,677361#msg-677361

Go to: FAQFAQ.................Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.findmall.com/read.php?55,496344

Also look through here:
http://www.mlotv.com/

Hope this helps!

 

[TURNMASTER]

Good job David

 

[nugget71]

Hope that answers your question well enough. Plenty of info here about the 70 and 705 on gold.
Enjoy!

 

[Sully_au]

Hi here is a post from Australia hope you enjoy Metal Detecting and relic hunting in Australia

 

[wwace]

I just did some testing with my X70 on some gold jewelry over the weekend. I was surprised how low my numbers were. Rings were pretty easy due to the large amount of metal and ring shape but on chains it was not good. I have a 1/2 gram gold token that would air test in prospecting mode at 4-5 inches max, the chain I tested was only able to get about 2in. This is with the 6x10 DD 18khz coil sens 25 or so. Prospect mode doubles the depth you will get compared to C & J programs, dig foil numbers 2, 4, 6 etc thru pulltab range for large unlikely pieces, if you can get a response in all metal. This test will certainly change my hunting settings, I will now hunt in Prospect only (totlots etc) and use AM to ID big signals. You have to use headphones and listen for whispers to get the small stuff, Oddly air testing sensitivity didn't change depth much at all on my machine

 

[amcjavelin]

hey thanks for all the info i do apreciate it!

 

[David]

Good.

wwace, I agree Prospecting Mode is about double the depth over C & T Mode in the air. Your strategy to hunt in Prospecting Mode(try experimenting with Iron Mask-IM from 5 to 20) for maximum depth then switch over to C & T Mode(in All Metal-AM) to ID(identify) the target on the TID numbers. Yes this system does work but there are drawbacks with doing this:

1) The target in Prospecting Mode might be too deep for C & T Mode to pick up with no signal so you have to dig all deeper trash too. 2) Very good idea when targets are far and few between and sparse but it will drive you crazy and it is VERY time consuming to use this system switching the 2 Modes back and forth in very trashy areas.

They do not on the X-70(5) but I wish the TID numbers did show up in the Prospecting Mode if it was possible, this would be the best thing for the most depth-IDing and help.

I do not have an Whites MXT. Does anyone know if TID numbers show up in the deepest searching Prospecting Mode(or Relic Mode) on the MXT? How about on the Fisher F75? On the Safari or E-Trac?

 

["Dr.Tones"]

yeah those gold chains can be a tough target for detectors of all makes to find. The detector wants to see each individual link instead of the whole target. The finer the chain the less response you'll get.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

I just got back from Alaska hunting gold and it is unbelievable on depth and also it will ID iron trash so that I dug maybe 5% of bad targets. I got 4.77 troy Oz of nuggets with my X-70 and the high freq. 10 1/2" coil. It even out did the MXTs on IDing depth. This is one of the best gold detectors I have used out side of the big Minelabs.

 

[David]

I just got back from Alaska hunting gold and it is unbelievable on depth and also it will ID iron trash so that I dug maybe 5% of bad targets. I got 4.77 troy Oz of nuggets with my X-70 and the high freq. 10 1/2" coil. It even out did the MXTs on IDing depth. This is one of the best gold detectors I have used out side of the big Minelabs.

Thanks for the good report Steve as it is appreciated! I also have the X-70 and the round 10 1/2" HF(18.75 kHz) coil. Can you please answer some questions Steve.:

1) When you say ID iron trash, do you mean in the Coin & Treasure(C & T) Mode on the TID numbers ??

2) Do you hunt in Prospecting(P) Mode(in AM-All Metal or at what IM-Iron Mask number from 1 to 20?) then switch over to C & T Mode to ID trash ??

3) OR hunt in C & T Mode full-time ??

Thank you!

 

[Steve in Idaho]

I ID iron trash in the prospect mode with the iron mask set at 1. This gives a null when going over iron about 95% of the time. A large piece sometimes will give a good target response. I have found that cast iron will give a good target response when in the prospect mode. I always hunt gold in the prospect mode, then switch to coin mode for a TID.

 

[David]

I ID iron trash in the prospect mode with the iron mask set at 1. This gives a null when going over iron about 95% of the time. A large piece sometimes will give a good target response. I have found that cast iron will give a good target response when in the prospect mode. I always hunt gold in the prospect mode, then switch to coin mode for a TID.

Thank you very much Steve. I have also wrote down that someone uses their Iron Mask(IM) at 1 in Prospecting Mode but I have not used that setting yet. Now after you recommend it I will try it. It sounds as if 1 is better than using the IM factory preset of 5 or using All Metal(AM). Because at 5 it may reject some very small micro gold nuggets and if 1 nulls going over about 95% of iron, that is all a person needs as long as it does not null micro gold. But we must sacrifice some goodies sometimes in trashy areas.

Too bad the TID did not work in Prospecting Mode but then IM is a good compromise and we can always switch over to C & T Mode to check the TID. Just the switch over is not instantly fast as it takes about 3 seconds to do so.

 

[Danno]

The guy at my local detector shop reckons that in the right hands and fitted with the 6" DD Coil, the X-Terra 705 is a very sensitive, deep gold hunter and even went on to say it could do nearly as well as the SD and GP series.

I'm only a beginer and don't know wether to take that with a large grain of salt, but I do know this guy has been in the business many years and knows his stuff.

I bought one so I will soon find out no doubt.

Danno

 

[Steve in Idaho]

I have the small high freq. coil and it will go deep but I don't think that it will compete with the SD and GP series.

 

[Danno]

I think he was really saying that considering the different technologies and huge price difference, the 705 performs extremely well on gold. (fitted with that 6" DD Coil).

Off to try it this weekend!

Danno