CAN YOU USE A METAL DETECTOR TO FIND GOLD?

CAN YOU USE A METAL DETECTOR TO FIND GOLD?

Can You Use a Metal Detector to Find Gold?

A question asked by many of the people interested in detecting gold,

whether raw natural gold or buried gold such as coins and ornamental jewelry such as rings.

The simple answer to this question is: Yes, you can use a metal detector to find gold

because gold is a metal but with specific properties.

In general, a metal detector can detect all types of metals, which are classified into two types,

which are ferrous or magnetic metals such as iron, and the second class is non-ferrous

or non-magnetic metals, and within this classification falls gold, silver, copper and aluminum…

Thus, a metal detector can be used by prospectors and treasure hunters to detect gold

and golden burials and golden treasures such as statues, swords, jewelry and natural gold nuggets also.

In this article, we will explain the principle of the work of the traditional electromagnetic metal detector

also called handheld metal detectors, which is the most widespread type, which depends

on the search for metals on the so-called search coil, and we will explain the mechanism of work

of these coils and how an effective search coils can be made for the detection, with practical examples

of various devices and explain the mechanism of detecting gold in these devices and how prospector

know that it find gold not another metal.

WHAT IS A HANDHELD METAL DETECTOR?

Metal detectors devices differ and vary in search technologies and other features

such as maximum search depth and bundled accessories and comes in many

different shapes and with wide range of features and prices from hobby devices to professional machines.

Read more in following article: Types of Metal Detectors

One of the most common types of metal detectors among prospectors,

especially beginners and amateurs, is hand-held or electromagnetic metal detectors,

as there are dozens of devices from various well-known companies in this field,

such as the American Garrett company, the American Fisher Labs, and the Turkish company Nokta Makro.

Examples of handheld metal detectors: Garrett ACE APEX, Impact Pro

HOW A METAL DETECTOR WORK?

Electromagnetic metal detectors works according to one of two search technologies.

: Very low frequency (VLF) or pulse induction technology (PI), which depends on a search coil

used to detect the presence of different metals such as gold, silver, copper,  within the search area

below the search coil, The signals received by the search coils are converted into digital signals

that are represented by a number on the screen of the device and called the digital target ID

indicating the type of target, or the presence of the metal target is known through an audio

tone issued by a built-in speaker in the device, and in some devices different tones can

be assigned to different types of metals.

A METAL DETECTOR WORKING PRINCIPLE

The principle of how a metal detector work is very simple,

Metal detector device transmit a magnetic field via its search coil using sender coil,

this magnetic field is as a result of electric current flowing through built-in coils inside search coil.

When a magnetic field hit any buried metal object underground such as a golden coin.

When the electromagnetic field collides with a metallic object, the metal target

absorbs part of the signal and returns a reversible electromagnetic field.

The other coil called the receiver coil receives the field signal and converts the difference

between the two fields into a digital signal transferred to the control unit (system box)

of the device for processing and filtering , the output will be a number called target ID

displayed on display screen that present the target type or metal type .

Also an audio output based on target type is heard via built-in speaker or wired or wireless headphones.

Read more details here: How a metal detector works?

HOW METAL DETECTOR COILS WORK

Metal detectors depend in their work on the search coils, which is an oval, solid or hollow plastic disc,

inside which the copper coils that wrap around it are placed, and usually there is a pair of coils,

one of which acts as a transmitter and the second as a receiver for electromagnetic signals.

The electric current is fed in sender coil causing in generating a magnetic field transmits to the area

surrounding the search coil via an oscillating electromagnetic field.

When this field comes into contact with a metal object such as golden coin, its shape is altered.

This change in magnetism is detected by the receiver coil, which sends a signal back to the electronic circuits

inside the metal detector, causing a sound that notifies the user of the presence of metal.

HOW TO BUILD METAL DETECTOR COIL

Simple search coils can be built using simple household tools

available at any specialized electronics store.

As the manufacturing of search coils is very simple and inexpensive, as it includes

simple elements that include copper coils and a plastic plate of two upper and lower

layers with a connection to connect the two coils to the disk cable that connects to

the main unit of the metal detector within a special port that transmits signals through it.

You can find out more on following link: how to build metal detector coil

 GOLD NUGGET HUNTING WITH A METAL DETECTOR

So a metal detector can be used to find natural gold nuggets that are present in the ground

in the form of small granules of a very small size that does not exceed a few millimeters

and a light weight that does not exceed a few grams and at depths close to the surface

from a few centimeters to about a meter and a meter and a half.

There is a dedicated type of metal detectors called  gold ore detectors, which are designed with great sensitivity

at appropriate frequencies to capture signals of the smallest gold nuggets.

These devices provide a mechanism to distinguish metals to distinguish between gold

and other metals so that the prospector can know if gold is found through an audio feedback via special audio tone

or through the so-called target identifier (Target ID) , which is a number displayed on the device screen

corresponding to the type of metal.

Example of such devices includes : Gold Kruzer – Garret Gold Master 24K – GPX 6000 and so on.

METAL DETECTOR FREQUENCY FOR GOLD

Metal Detector frequency in electromagnetic metal detectors is the number of waves per time unit (seconds)

and measured usually in hertz or kilohertz or KHz (more common in metal detectors).

Gold ore detectors work according to several technologies, the most popular and common one is Very Low Frequency (VLF) technology,

which depends on sending  electromagnetic fields resulting from the passage of electric current within the copper coils

towards the ground and then receiving it a number of times that present the frequency of the metal detector.

gold ore detectors with VLF technology varies in frequency and typically the frequencies range between 3 – 100 KHz,

for example it is 61 KHz in Gold Kruzer, 45 KHz in Gold Monster 1000, 10 KHz in Garrett ACE 400i

Read more details in following article : Metal Detector Frequency

Each of the frequencies has advantages, benefits, or drawbacks and disadvantages depending on the size,

depth and time of burial of the buried target, and factors related to soil and terrain in the detection area.

For the detection of raw gold nuggets, it is preferable that the frequency of the device be relatively high,

as it is more sensitive to detecting small sizes of gold, so the Gold Kruzer device is an ideal choice thanks to the high frequency.

There are devices that work according to the pulse induction technology, which usually gives greater depths to the search,

but with the absence of the discrimination feature, and among the devices that work according to this technology is the GPX 5000  device.

CHEAP METAL DETECTORS FOR GOLD

There are cheap metal detectors for gold, that is, they are available at prices that are considered appropriate

and economical for prospectors, as their prices do not exceed about a thousand dollars.

These devices include sufficient features to detect metals in general and gold in particular.

We mention, for example: Simplex device – Vanquish device

Read more : Cheapest Gold Detector

GOLD METAL DETECTORS FOR SALE

Gold metal detectors can be purchased through specialized companies whose specialized in selling gold detectors

and metal detectors of various types with wide several options for beginner, amateur or professional prospectors.

These companies often provide ease in the process of selling and buying any device by the user where it can be easily

ordered through contact via telephone, fax, social networking accounts or buy directly through their website with different payment methods

including wire bank transfers, money orders, e-payment services via credit cards or other payment methods such as PayPal.

These companies provide the delivery service of the devices purchased to the address of the buyer in his country

– if allowed according to the laws of his country – and is shipping via well-known international shipping companies.

The customer can also visit the headquarters of these companies and inspect the devices available and test them in practice

to get the correct information and more accurate and can be trained on some of the existing devices.

Read more details : Metal Detector for Sale

HOW TO USE A METAL DETECTOR TO FIND GOLD

Metal detectors can be used to detect gold easily. usually, these devices do not require experience

or knowledge of complex details. Rather, they can be used after a period of training.

With the repetition of the search process, the prospector can gain experience in knowing where to find gold.

Through the following paragraphs, we explain how to use a metal detector to detect gold through a series of steps:

STEP 1 – PREPARE FOR YOUR SEARCH

The preparation for gold prospecting is very important step to get great results,

first thing you must know where to search and get detailed info about search area like soil type

and land ownership as you must obtain permissions before searching for gold nuggets on private lands

or mining company lands

STEP 2: PURCHASING A GOLD DETECTOR DEVICE

You must purchase a metal detector device to find gold nuggets, the device must be easy to use

and lightweight and you must choose right device for your needs and conditions
It is recommended to get a high-frequency detector as it more sensitive to gold and look for automatic

ground balance controls adjust automatically according to the iron content in the rocks.

Also choose a detector that displays the depth of the detected object, it will help you to know

precisely how far down you need to excavate.

Buy coils in multiple sizes as larger coils will find larger objects at greater depths, while smaller coils

will find smaller objects at shallower depths.

Also purchase a pair of high-quality headphones that muffle outside noise and enhance the faint

sound made when nuggets are detected.

STEP 3: PRACTICE USING YOUR METAL DETECTOR

1 – Assemble your metal detector by following the manufacturer’s instructions

2 – Practice using your metal detector at home.

– Don’t practice outdoors with the detector until you become proficient at operating it.

– Place metal objects like bottle caps, can tabs, coins, nails and gold jewelry on a wooden table.

– Run the detector over each object to get an idea of what the detector will sound like when it encounters these metals.

STEP 4: USE YOUR METAL DETECTOR TO SEARCH FOR GOLD NUGGETS

1 – Transport yourself and your equipment to the area that you have chosen to prospect

2- On the land move the metal detectors coils side-to-side and low along the surface of the ground.

Avoid sweeping in a pendulum pattern in which the detector comes up high off of the surface of the ground

when it goes to the far right or far left in your sweeping pattern

3 – Perform overlapping sweeps. If you do not slightly overlap your sweeps, then you may miss small deposits between swept areas

4 – Treat all positive findings as indicators of larger deposits. Gold rarely occurs in small swaths, so prepare to excavate more deeply if you find a small nugget

CAN YOU USE A METAL DETECTOR UNDERWATER

Yes, metal detectors can be used underwater, but not all devices are designed to detect metals

under the water surface, rather there are only certain devices.

Some of these devices are completely waterproof so that the whole device, including the main unit

and disk, can be submerged under water and can be submerged to a relatively good depth

of up to 3-5 meters, depending on the device, in order to discover burials and treasures.

Example devices includes: Multi Kruzer , Anfibio

In other devices, only the search coils are waterproof, so the device can be used near the

shores of rivers, seas and lakes at shallow depths only for depth about 1 meter underwater

Example devices includes: Impact Pro

Read following article for full details: Underwater Metal Detector

HOW TO USE A VLF METAL DETECTOR

The method of using a traditional metal detector (VLF metal detector)

is very simple, and we summarize it in the following steps:

1- Assemble the device by connecting the main unit, the arm stand,

the plastic and aluminum arms, then connect the lower arm

to the search coil and connect the coil cable into its port inside the control unit (system box)

2 – Switch on the device and adjust its settings using the control panel and choose the appropriate search mode

3 – Make the ground balance manually or automatically in order to adjust the device according to the terrain

4- Move the search coils in slow, back and forth movements over the area

5 – Continue moving and walking slowly until you get an appropriate sound signal that indicates the presence of a metal target

It is important to keep the search coil in a horizontal position parallel to the ground and at a constant height of about 10-15 cm

CAN I USE MY IPHONE AS A METAL DETECTOR

The answer depends on the purpose of use..

Theoretically, the iPhone can be used as a metal detector by downloading a special metal detector application (app)

that uses the magnetic sensor in the iPhone device to measure the changes in the magnetism around the device

and convert it into signals displayed on the device screen within the application.

In practice, however, this process is imprecise and functionality is limited as the range does not exceed a few centimeters,

and this is impractical in uncovering valuable treasures and burials.

Therefore, we advise a serious prospector to buy a specialized metal detector in order to search for gold,

treasures and coins, and remember that your purchase of the device is a profitable investment of money in the long run