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Finding gold can be one of the most exciting and rewarding activities globally. People have been hunting for that gold nugget for as long as we can remember. Since its discovery, gold has served as a symbol of beauty, power, purity, and achievement. Gold is not only precious because of its beauty, but it may also be the most useful metal on the planet. It is an excellent electrical conductor, does not tarnish or oxidise, and it’s very flexible. You can manipulate, pound, and mould it without breaking it.
As technology advanced, people found ways to locate and extract gold without much effort. They invented the metal detectors, and this changed the overall search for gold, allowing everyone to make a go for it and find their pot of gold. But choosing a suitable gold detector is not like buying a power drill; it requires some knowledge and research to know what you need.
Features of Gold Detectors
Besides knowing your budget and how experienced you are in this field, there are a few more things to consider before buying a gold detector. On the contrary, you may end up with a fake model that will only be a waste of your money and make a hole in your pocket.
Coil Configuration
The coil controls the frequency, sensitivity and discrimination of the machine. It can be a Double-D coil. It looks like two overlappings reversed D’s and work great in overly mineralised soils. It can spot small targets at great depth. The Concentric coil has two circles; one is inner, and the other outer and has strong locating properties. And the Monoloop coil is used in Pulse Indication Machines. It uses high signals that work on heavily mineralised soils.
Coil Size
The depth of the search is proportional to the diameter of the coil. To put it another way, if the coil is big, it can go to a great depth, above 22cm. You can go between 17 and 22cm with a medium-sized coil. Small ones won’t let you go deeper than 15cm. So, if you’re expecting deep targets, go for machines with larger coils. Otherwise, go for a smaller one.
Discrimination
This is the machine’s ability to ignore the metals that you don’t want to find, and it can be a great feature that saves you time and effort in your quest for gold. Often, when people don’t know they need this feature or don’t know how to adjust it, they find aluminium caps. That’s why it’s essential to have this feature and learn to set it right.
Sensitivity
This feature indicates how capable of picking up smaller targets your equipment is. If you’re looking for small gold nuggets, buying a gold detector machine with high sensitivity is a good idea.
Operating Frequency
Every metal detector works on a specific frequency or collection of frequencies. This affects both sensitivity and depth. So, when the frequency is low, your machine is less sensitive to tiny targets but may go deeper. When the frequency is high, your device will be able to react to small items but will not be able to penetrate very deep.
Target ID
This function will help you in locating your location. You’ll be able to determine the object’s value based on this. In general, you should choose a detector that has a large number of target IDs. This will make identification much easier. The elements with the highest electrical conductivity have higher values! However, you should always read the manual that comes with the machine to figure out any troubleshooting.
Things to Take Into Consideration
If you’re going to use your gold detector machine often, you should consider other factors as well. Thinking about how often will you use it, how much is your budget, and what environment you’ll be searching in will help you a lot.
Environment
Searching for gold in locations where it hasn’t been discovered before might be difficult. Experts recommend that you begin your quest for gold in areas where people have already found gold. But you cannot assume that you will locate gold in an area merely because it has been discovered earlier. As a result, you should look for the exact locations where treasure hunters previously worked.
Excellent places to look are creeks where miners arranged boulders by hand or slopes where they excavated tunnels are excellent places to look. There is a possibility that miners did not discover some gold nuggets. A gold detector can locate nuggets that the naked eye missed. If people found gold in a particular area in the past, there is a chance you’ll find some today. There are several places where you can find gold in Australia.
Mineralisation
This is a big factor to consider. Some particles in the soil contain metal in them, and they can emit a magnetic response. If this happens, the detector won’t be able to tell you the right location. One thing you could do is search for lead. There are big chances that gold is nearby if you can find it.
Budget
If you’re a beginner in this area, it’s not recommended to buy a multi-thousand detector. The point is first to get used to it, figure out how it works, and upgrade it over time if you get passionate enough. A higher price-tag detector will surely bring you more joy, but baby steps are important.
Entry-Level Device
Entry-level devices are an affordable way to get into the hobby and become a true treasure hunter. With this detector, you can actually find some incredibly unique and valuable stuff. Ground balancing, target ID, depth indicators, pinpointing capabilities, and decent ferrous metal discriminations are common features on entry-level gold detectors.
Mid-Level Device
Mid-level devices are ideal for enthusiasts who don’t want to spend a lot of money but still want more features and enhanced performance. Ground balancing is very adjustable, it has strong discriminating functions, and some of these machines even have customisable frequencies. Some of these devices are even waterproof to some extent.
High-End Device
High-end metal detectors are on the top of the list. They’re a must-have for any serious treasure hunter, thanks to their powerful performance, various features, and great fit and finish. Ground balance functions, professional-grade discrimination levels, and tremendous depth and sensitivity are available on high-end metal detectors. These detectors are a little more expensive, but the amount of treasure you can locate with them will be worth it.
In Summary
People have started this gold hunting adventure and extended it to a family business that makes them a lot of money. Who knows, you may be the next gold millionaire if you’re persistent and find the right spot. Choose a reliable brand that has a good reputation on the market, and that can give you at least a 2-year warranty.
