Perfect testing ground.

[Anonymous]

It was my scraping operation that started off the discussion below re magnetic red clay layers but I have now stopped earthmoving with the CAT966 because the nugget patch I'm working is so huge and the nuggets are scattered everywhere, not in a defined "run" as I would like. Scraping for scattered nuggets is an iffy proposition because you have to open up , then rehabilitate, so many acres of ground. So there are many acres of untouched ground still there and there are certainly scattered nuggets present at around the 10-12" level, IN or UNDER the red clay layer. I know for sure that the SD/GP detectors with any coils will not get the average 5 gram nuggets at that 10-12" level, and will also not get up to 2 ounce nuggets at that depth. Bigger than 2 oz lumps are probably already gone from the area, but it remains as a perfect testing ground for detector technology that CAN effectively penetrate the magnetic red clay layer at 6-8" deep. Go for it, gurus !. Cheers, Chris Hake.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Chris,
What detector are you using now? My last testing of the SD was with a SD 2100 and it wouldn't get a 5 gram nugget much deeper than maybe 5" to 7". We also tested a 1 oz nugget and the maximum depth was less than 12", like maybe 10" to 11" range.
These were buried nugget tests in fairly hot clay type ground. There was some electrical interference but not much so I don't think it affected the depth that much. All the nuggets were very coarse gold, some had a little quartz and all had a lot of character. In other words, the gold wasn't a dense compacted solid nugget.
I noticed that how solid a nugget is makes a big difference as to the depth it can be detected. For example, I have tested with another very solid lump type nugget and the machine does a better job and goes deeper.
Is the gold you are finding a solid dense piece or does it more "grainy" and porous?
On a different note, many years ago I brought some of the Rich Hill red clay home with me and tried a little testing. The material was some that I took from a bulldozed pile. It seemed like after it was bulldozed, it didn't have the same affect. I am not sure why, whether it was the breaking of a magnetic field or whether it was just breaking up the clay itself so it wasn't so dense.
Anyway, my testing wasn't very scientific but I couldn't see where the limited amount I had for testing had any dramatic characteristics that would lead to the reduction of depth. In fact, it seemed milder than the soil around my home which has a lot of black sand. Again, my testing was done with VLF's.
I am not sure a person couldn't use red solid bricks as a simulator for the red clay (Eric pointed this out to me). There would be some differences but a solid brick should be reasonably dense. It should come closer to matching than the grainy soil in a drywash.
Just a thought.
Reg

 

[Anonymous]

Reg I'm using a modified SD2000 and 11"mono coil on the scrapings. But the main point is that I have personally covered the same ground with a SD2200 and Coiltek 18"DD coil for NIL result, and I know at least 2 other experienced operators who have done the same for nil result. When I mention 5 gram nuggets at 10-12" I dont mean that I am detecting them that deep. In fact I am only detecting them from 5-6" AFTER the dozer has scraped that much off. Even the few +20 gram nuggets have only been 10-12" deep and I didnt detect them until after the dozer had scraped !. They are all good solid nuggets, nice and weighty for their size, and the highlight was the 2 oz lump that everyone including myself would have definitely detected over previously. I suspect there are many + 1oz nuggets still there at about 12" deep and I sure would like a detector that could get them. Cheers, Chris Hake.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Chris, you might want to invite Ray over to your patch. With his variable regulated power supply and the UFO, on a 2100 or modded 2000 is maybe the only chance there is at the moment. He mentioned some pretty impressive depths. No doubt the coiltek boys are busy trying to squeeze more depths out of the SD's!
Have a good one