Delta & Gold Nuggets

[Gorillajoe]

Well I just ordered my first detector, I decided on a Delta because of its features and its price. I opted for the pin pointer and headphones combo package...should come in handy...My only experience with a detector prior to this purchase was with a cheap radio shack model. I played with it for about 2 hours and was able to find a spoon about a foot down. I've been looking to get back in the hobby ever since...

I live in the sierra mountains, Coarsegold to be exact. I've lived here awhile now and have a few places I've always wanted to hunt most of them creeks and river bank washouts and old gold mine tailing's and things like that. I know I probably would have much better luck with a machine designed for finding gold, but those machines are way outta my price range. However I would like to purchase one in the future when my delta pays for itself.

My questions...
Would it be better for me to use the Delta as a coin shooter and stick to the parks and school yards and such...or would I have a fair chance at finding a nugget? Ive got prime nugget land in my backyard, as well as old ghost towns built during the gold rush.

Is the stock 8'' coil waterproof?

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

Due to the lower frequency of the delta it won't be a great nugget hunter. Have to be fairly large for it to see it.

 

[Gorillajoe]

I'm aware of the frequency differences, the higher the frequency the smaller the pieces can be detected...what size should i expect the Delta to find? 1/4''? bigger??

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

I am not a nuggett hunter but you could either get some and try or do what most do and use a .22 lead bullet to test.

 

[Monte]

I like the Delta and use one as a loaner for family, friends and landowners when I can access their property and they can 'join in the thrill of the hunt". It's a very good entry-level detector mainly designed for the coin hunter, but it is a bit more flexible than that.

My questions...
Would it be better for me to use the Delta as a coin shooter and stick to the parks and school yards and such...or would I have a fair chance at finding a nugget? Ive got prime nugget land in my backyard, as well as old ghost towns built during the gold rush.

I'd suggest using the Delta w/stock 8" coil in the Discriminate mode for Coin hunting. Set the Discrimination at the turn-on '40' (to reject Iron and provide a two-tone operation), or at '10' to accept more targets (and get the three-tone audio ID). Unless I am in really dense iron trash I like to hear as many targets as I can. Don't sweep the coil too quickly,. and don't scrub it on the ground. Work it about 1" or so off the ground surface, and make shorter side-to-side sweeps. Overlap.

If you get a good audio 'beep' or a questionable iffy response, pinpoint it and recover it. Then learn about the TID display accuracy by comparing what it says Vs what you actually recovered. In the long run this can be easier because you can coin hunt at many different sites, and usually closer to home. Learn what the Delta can do, and how to get the most out of it.

Now, if you really want to search for gold nuggets, just remember that is what you're after. Nuggets! You're not going to find little marginal flakes or 'dust.' Use one of the All metal mode. Try A1 first and make sure it works okay in your ground. If it is noisy, just use A2 which has a somewhat different GB setting and will help handle some more challenging ground mineral conditions. Nugget hunt ONLY in the All Metal modes.

Use a good set of quality headphones, too.

Is the stock 8'' coil waterproof?

Yes. it is. All of the Teknetics coils are (and most competitors coils as well). However, you won't be working the coil in the water very much as that's not the best place to detect for gold nuggets.

Also, since most nuggets are smaller size and can hide in and around rocks and brush I would encourage you to also get a 5" DD coil.

Not a true nugget hunting detectors, but in time you can add a model and get to that point.

Monte

 

[Gorillajoe]

Thanks Monte!

My plan is to follow the creeks down from the high county looking for switch backs in the creek and old miners pits and quarts veins.
I plan on running A1 for the majority of the hunts. I really don't mind finding old iron horse shoe or rusty square nails they will look good on my wall....
I don't expect much, If I find any gold I'll be elated!
There are some old cabins and homesteads not too far from my house...hope to find some coin there time will tell.

I'll try and get one of those 5'' DD coils next week, that is if the Christmas presents don't leave me broke.

Right now I'm waiting on FedEx....

Well last night my brother asked me about that old radio shack detector, which is weird because it wasn't mine and was about 5 years ago...He tells me that he has just bought a house and needs a metal detector to find the power lines to his well pump...now we are both waiting on FedEx!