Pinpointing and Target sizing with the X-70 Prospecting mode......

[Digger]

Today I was hunting in an area that had lots of nails, bolts and scrap iron in the ground. This is an area that has produced many old coins over the years, so I know there are still some hiding! I was hunting with the X-70 and 7.5 kHz coil today, running in Pattern 1, threshold 4, GB varying from 22 to 42, volume 30 and sensitivity 27. I knew the area I was hunting had lots of ferrous targets due to the blanking effect I was hearing. I swept over a target that read a solid 36. Removing a plug of dirt about 6 inches across and 6 inches deep, I swept back over the hole. The target was still there. I removed another few inches of dirt, and placed it on the pile at the side of the hole. I swept the coil over the hole and got no response. I passed the coil over the pile of dirt and still got no response. I thought this was going to be one of those "phantom" targets, but refused to move on until I learned what it was. I tried the pinpoint mode, but found that it was ineffective due to the multitude of ferrous targets in the area. I couldn't get far enough away to get a clean piece of earth! I tried switching to all-metal mode. But all that did was confirm the amount of adjacent trash. For some reason I switched to Prospecting mode and swept the coil over the hole. Nothing. I swept over the pile of dirt beside the hole and WHEEEEEE, there it was. I centered the highest pitched sound over what turned out to be a nice old IH cent. I am convinced that the Prospecting mode locked onto this target when other modes failed.

Thinking that maybe the Prospecting mode was more "sensitive" to small targets, and less effected by adjacent trash, I put it to another test. I had dug about a half dozen pieces of copper scrap today, thinking it was going to be a coin. Some of these pieces were only 2 or 3 inches long, and some were 5 or 6 inches square. I pulled a couple of them out of my trash bag and put them on the ground. When I passed over them in Pattern 1, all-metal and pinpoint modes, I realized why I had dug them. The sounded like and displayed like a coin. But when I passed over them in the Prospecting mode, I could get a pretty accurate idea of their size and shape, just by listening to the tone. I wonder if this might not be a good tool to use when you are digging those old aluminum cans, thinking they are going to be a quarter! Maybe sizing the target with the Prospecting mode could save some frustration. If you haven't tried this, I encourage you to do so. If you have tried it, I would appreciate hearing your opinions. HH Randy

 

[Des Dunne]

Randy,
Here is a short quote from a Product Report of X-Terra 70:

Prospecting Mode

"The prospecting mode on the X-Terra 70 isn't just an all-metal mode; it has been designed for detecting targets in difficult soil conditions with better depth and sensitivity compared to the Discriminate mode. There may be situations where you will achieve better performance with the Prospecting mode, not only when nugget hunting. The Prospecting Mode features an adjustable Iron Mask, which is similar to an expanded ferrous discrimination range, which has a scale of 0 -20. Now even on the maximum setting of 20, most low conductive non-ferrous targets will still be detected, but it will reject small nails, mild steel washers, wire etc., which can be of use for relic and jewellery hunters, and even coin hunters working an old site with unusually deep targets. The prospecting mode produces signals with a tone modulated audio response similar to the pinpoint mode, which makes it very easy to hear faint target signals (wear good quality headphones always).
The Prospecting Mode is great to

 

[Monte]

both a valuable 'tool' for locating targets that seem to disappear, and to get a better electronic picture of some questionable targets.

I have also used it for hunting an old recreation/amusement park that's pretty void of targets in several areas. I search in the Prospecting mode and check some targets in the Discriminate (Coin & Treasure) mode.

Like you are finding, I favor hunting with a slight audio Threshold (it's set at 6 for me) and listening for the nulling in iron. But I also like to hunt in 2-Tone audio to split the tones between ferrous (low) and non-ferrous (high). Hunting in the Prospecting mode with some Iron Mask for the site, I still hear the nulling over rejected iron. Due to the auto-tune time of the X-Terra 70, I might 'work it' a little or switch mode and check some targets, but it lets me know what's there (ferrous/non-ferrous).

Out with the various coils yesterday I noted that a fresh-buried penny, laying flat and the dirt packed back in, never responded with a good TID (visual or audio) in the C&T mode, and it usually ID's at -8 and was jumpy to 46, -6, -4, etc. Using the Prospecting mode gave me a good audio hit that was not rejected with Iron Mask.

The more we get out with our X-Terra 70's the more they are going to grow on us with all their ability and a nicely designed package.

Monte

 

[wpaxt]

I've noticed the "vanishing signal" situation a couple of times with the 70--reminds me of the Sovereign/Excalibur/Explorer whereby you have to dig one more scoop of sand/dirt and then you find the target. Trying the prospecting mode when this happens next time has me very curious.

Speaking of prospecting, I've been planning on doing exactly what Des suggested with the prospecting mode at the beach to see if I can find some small, fine gold. This X-Terra 70 becomes more and more intriguing the more that we learn about all it is capable of.

Thanks again for the info, Randy. I'm glad you finally got out!

Bill (S. CA)

 

[JW]

especially until I get more of my strength back.

JW

 

[North Georgia Relics]

n/t