dfx for nuggets?

[Favored Papa]

has anyone had any experience using a DFX for gold? I know it is more a coin machine but for now I cannot afford another detector. any Help would be good, thanks.

 

[Digger Bob]

Well, no one else seems willing to tackle this, so I'll give you my opinion on it.

First of all, don't even bother with the prospecting program on it. It's practically worthless.
Secondly, what I would do is keep it in the coin mode but turn off the disc. In fact, program in to accept the first 10 or so negative numbers and all numbers above that. Set your sweep speed to the slowest setting. If possible, get a smaller loop for it.

You don't say what part of the country you will be hunting in. But if the mineralization is bad, you are not going to get much depth and maybe some false signals. And you won't be able to pickup the small nuggets. I would make up some test targets of small lead taped to a piece of cardboard or plastic. Take these with you into the field and bury them at various depths after setting up your machine. See what kind of sound and readouts you get on them. Expect to dig a lot of trash. You will discriminate most of the iron with these settings and the machine will run relatively smooth. Play with different settings to get the best signal you can from your test targets. Then dig everything that sounds even close to those sounds. Ignore the readouts, rely on sound alone.

Digger Bob

 

[Favored Papa]

thanks much Bob, I am in southern Idaho. we have lots of tailing piles close and Ry Patch is not to far off.

 

[Digger Bob]

Yes, tailings piles are notorious for bad mineralization. It's the mix of various kinds of rocks with extreme variations of minerization. Ground balance to one spot and 12 inches away it can be 180 degrees off. Best use the coin mode like I described. That's your best chance.

Rye Patch is not so bad. Ground there is pretty uniform and not bad minerization. You might try the prospecting mode there and see what happens.

Digger