Nugget hunting & GQSSv.2

[Anonymous]

Well, I went to Rich Hill, AZ land of hot rocks, cold rocks and varieties of basalt rocks, oh and big nuggets...if you are lucky...and tried my new gqssv.2. The first day was quite a trial using the stock mono coil. Every slight change in elevation of the coil caused a response. Thsi was not unexpected but still very wearing on my ears. Even so I was finding the usual non-gold junk; nails,lead and stuff. That evening Reg Sniff showed up like the white knight and loaned me a DD coil. WOW, what a difference that made. The next day I used the DD and continued to find the usual junk but did not suffer from the constant noise like the mono coil caused. There were still plenty of signals from the various types of rocks but I think most people would learn to sort those signals from the metallic signals...I just kick the surface ones aside and dig the deeper ones until I know what the signal is. Most places don't have the variety of rocks RH has. The DD made my day.
Yesterday I drove down to the potholes around Yuma, Az. I didn't find any gold but was impressed with the gqssv.2 down there as well. The smallest lead I found was about 7 grains-a # 4 or 6 shot. I also found a BB that was steel...these are the smallest sizes I have any interest in for nuggets, so I was happy in that regard. I truely enjoyed the ease of use of the GQSSv.2 and I am looking to my next trip and first nugget with my new toy.
Thanks for making a great product, Eric. And special thanks to Reg for going out of his way to help a fellow prospector out...
Fred

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing Fred,
Enjoyed your post almost felt as if I was hunting those desert settings, Wish I was there with you.
Amazing what the DD coil does to a pi when searching the AZ desert, Sure helps. Eric's coils perform best on ocean shore lines which are areas my GQ does extreamly well with the 11" mono coil, Both cools have an edge over the other for certain types of hunting.
Did you use the extra filter?
HH, Paul (Ca)

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, Paul;
I tried various settings at Rich Hill and felt the 2nd filter and the SAT from midpoint to max was the smoothest operation...the flats at Rich Hill are very trying for any detector...I worked an area around Yuma where the 2nd filter was not neccesary but that was completely different geology...
fred

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Fred,
Thanks for the kind words. Having hunted the area many times, I knew just how bad the ground problem was on the flats around the ghost town of Octave. It is some of the worst ground I have encountered.
Knowing how bad it was, I knew you would need a DD coil if you hunted the flats or otherwise you could get frustrated. Since I have been there and done that, I thought I could help out. I am glad the coil worked well for you.
I am also glad you posted the info describing the difference between the ground signals from a DD and a mono. In bad ground areas, the difference can be very signficant. This is why I have been a strong advocate for the use of a DD coil and would like people to try one if they are planning on using a PI that doesn't have ground balance for nugget hunting. It can make all the difference.
In the worst ground, it isn't perfect, but a DD is still a major improvement.
On a little different note, were you able to use your mono coil while hunting at Yuma, or did you stay with a DD?
Reg

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Fred,
I forgot to mention a few tricks that will help you determine various objects when using a DD coil. Sometimes bobbing the coil over a large magnetite or basalt rock will make it obvious. A metallic object will get louder as the coil approaches non ferrous object, but on a piece of basalt, the signal may diminish somewhat. The signal from a magnetite type looking (black or black or dark steaks or blocks in the rock) hotrock, may change dramatically over a very short distance.
Iron objects do some stange thngs also. Pass the coil over an iron object with the coil far enough away, and the signal will generally be much wider than a similar sized non ferrous object. Get the coil closer and the large wide single signal can become a very large double blip, like the signal one gets when going over a nail.
The key to getting the maximum out of a DD coil is to experiment. Bob the coil over an object. Make multiple passes with coil at different heights. Deep hotrock signals will generally disappear, or get weaker as the coil gets very close. Iron objects can change signals significantly.
Fortunately, non ferrous objects generally just get louder and do not display some of the other odd characteristics displayed by rocks or iron.
So, when you are using a DD, just have fun and try a few different things when a target is encountered. The DD can tell you much more than just the fact there is a target below.
Reg

 

[Anonymous]

Reg;
I did notice iron signals were different and after a time I was able to predict what the signal would be with fair accuracy. I am certain that I can learn the GQSS v.2 language with a little more practice. I didn't use the mono near Yuma but am sure it would of worked because I could use the first filter and the SAT at midpoint with no problem...I do more digging than is really neccessary because I prefer to see what is causing the signal, I do this even when I am nearly certain I know what the signal is. I get surprised often enough to know digging is the best way for me...
You are a treasure-chest of information...
thanks
fred