Does wet ground effect detecting very much?

[harryhh]

Is wet ground very detrimental to detecting? Especially deep targets?

 

[nolanation]

Wet ground will increase conductivity of targets. It may possibly increase falsing as well, but it is worth trying out some spots after a fresh rain as long as the ground is not like soup. My opinion anyway. HH.

 

[Crusty]

The intellect of man is forced to choose
Perfection of life ,or of the work
---------------------------------------

Say what?

 

[JamesM]

I think it depends on how "hot" the ground is. Sooo, in some areas it can help or make no difference, and in some areas, it can, as nolanation said, increase falsing. You won't know until you try.

 

[TAFI125]

In our part of the uk it seems to make a difference after a bit of rain. But not the 6 months worth that we have had recently!

 

[harryhh]

Interesting to hear that in some cases wet ground might actually help. I'm in northwest Illinois, and we generally have a foot or so of very rich dark soil. My understanding is that this isn't 'hot' or mineralized soil.

And thanks for the opinions folks, but I'm still looking for more thoughts on this matter.

 

[Digger]

Due to a decrease in resistance to the electromagnetic fields, wet soil can be of benefit in areas with low mineralization or in areas without ferrous type targets. In areas with higher levels of mineralization or in areas with an abundance of ferrous targets (rusty nails), your detection "results" will be made worse (in wet soil), due to the enhanced mineralization and an increase in the "masking" response of energized ferrous targets.

 

[harryhh]

Very informative Digger. Thank you.

 

[david.di]

Wet ground will increase conductivity of targets. It may possibly increase falsing as well, but it is worth trying out some spots after a fresh rain as long as the ground is not like soup. My opinion anyway. HH.

nolanation,

if wetting the ground around a target was to cause any increase in that targets conductivity , wouldn't that target show up as a higher conductor on the CTX 3030 or any detector set up do so, that can determine the nature of a metals conductivity?

I can get my head around wetting the ground and the moisture connecting up the minerals in the dirt, especially ferrous/iron oxides so as to interfere with and mask the detection of a non ferrous target( see Diggers' explanation) , but an increase in targets conductivity just because it gets wet, just doesn't seem possible.


david di

 

[nolanation]

Wet ground will increase conductivity of targets. It may possibly increase falsing as well, but it is worth trying out some spots after a fresh rain as long as the ground is not like soup. My opinion anyway. HH.

nolanation,

if wetting the ground around a target was to cause any increase in that targets conductivity , wouldn't that target show up as a higher conductor on the CTX 3030 or any detector set up do so, that can determine the nature of a metals conductivity?

I can get my head around wetting the ground and the moisture connecting up the minerals in the dirt, especially ferrous/iron oxides so as to interfere with and mask the detection of a non ferrous target( see Diggers' explanation) , but an increase in targets conductivity just because it gets wet, just doesn't seem possible.


david di

David, I meant the ground becomes more conductive and this benefits ALL targets. Gold and silver can create sort of an "ion halo" over many years through the form of compounds and ions that can escape from alloys mixed in, that can be increased with moisture. It doesn't take much ionization to make the surrounding ground conductive. Hope that is clearer. Look it up! This is just my understanding.

 

[Buried Crap NJ]

Along with wet soil an area known to have had a lighting strike would produce more targets. This gadget was produced in the late 1980's through the late 1990's. Was called the Double Depth made by the Compass metal detecting Company. Many used these with great success. I have owned 2 in my life picking them up for a few buck new in the box and reselling them for several hundred dollars each. I never used one. I have talked with people who have and say they did work! Just a little info. You would charge the ground through a car battery with the unit and then hunt the area. The idea was that the metal targets would hold a charge they received.

 

[WildOutdoorAddict]

In my area it seems to help after a good rain in summer. I can tell a difference in the true depth ready from what a machine tells me and the true depth also. When my soil here dries out my machines are not real accurate on depth.. I haven't had my ctx all that long, so it will be tested this summer in the heat and dry conditions.

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

I find damp ground great. Soaked ground not good at all. Lose depth and a little erratic.

 

[JamesM]

I find damp ground great. Soaked ground not good at all. Lose depth and a little erratic.

It's the same in my area, unless I can find a spot that has very little iron.

 

[harryhh]

Interesting about the lightning strikes. If I remember, they can change the ground by 'crystallizing' it. Perhaps that could make for better detecting.

Interesting about the depth doubler too. Now you're going to have everyone lugging along a car battery also.

 

[johno]

i always seem to find more in wet ground and i usually go over the hardest hit areas after a all day rain or longer..... goodluck HH

 

[taltexan]

If the soil moisture has met meaning the soil is moist thru out from surface down 12" or so then the finds increase for me. I like to detect a couple of days after a good rain.

 

[harryhh]

Thanks for all the replies guys. When I saw posts mentioning various detecting conditions, including wet soil, I thought these were negative effects. Glad to see that wet soil is generally a good thing

 

[AngelicStorm]

In iron infested areas I seem to get more falsing, but in other areas where iron isn't as prevalent, I do seem to get a little extra depth and more finds.