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Finally...my long-promised testing of the Gold Bug Pro on multiple gold nuggets...

sgoss66

sgoss66

Well-known member
OK all; many of you may recall that I told you that I had several gold nuggets of various sizes, and that I'd do some air testing on these pieces with my Gold Bug Pro, and report back.

Well, I've finally done it.

I tested 9 gold pieces -- six "nuggets" and three "flakes;" I also tested a "BB-sized" lead split shot. The nuggets ranged in weight from 2.75 grams down to roughly 0.1 grams; the flakes ranged in weight from 0.2 grams down to roughly 0.05 grams; the split shot weighed 0.5 grams.

A few notes about the testing. I did the testing outside, using the 5" DD coil, away from any appreciable EMI. I ground balanced to the ground (59.2 in this case), but did the testing in the air, on a flat stump, with the Gold Bug Pro coil resting on the stump, and the coil plane perpendicular to the stump's surface (the detector's "cone" or "beam" thus pointing parallel to the stump's surface). I tested for depth in all-metals mode, with the gain at 100 and the threshold set at 2 (where my threshold was just BARELY audible). I placed a ruler at the base of the coil, and then waved each piece in front of the coil, noting distance to the coil, or "depth," to the nearest 1/4" along the ruler. The "depth" I report is the farthest from the coil that I could get any appreciable peep of a sound above the background threshold. After air testing for depth in all-metals mode, I then switched to disc mode (still at gain 100) to record the digital ID number (VDI) that the machine ID'd each piece at. When testing, I turned each piece so that the machine was seeing the "longest" or "widest" axis of the piece; in other words, I did not place the oblong pieces on edge, but instead with the largest surface area facing the coil. Please see the picture below to see a picture of each nugget and the split shot (note the size of the pieces relative to the penny in the picture).

Here are the results of the testing:

Nugget 1, 2.75 grams -- max depth 7" VDI 50-51
Nugget 2, 1.4 grams -- max depth 6.25" VDI 54
Nugget 3, 0.5 grams -- max depth 4.5" VDI 46
Nugget 4, 0.45 grams -- max depth 4.25" VDI 44-45
Nugget 5, 0.3 grams -- max depth 3.25" VDI 46
Nugget 6, 0.1 grams -- max depth 1.5" VDI inconsistent

Flake 1, 0.2 grams -- max depth 4.25" VDI 46-48
Flake 2, 0.1 grams -- max depth 2.75" VDI 42-44
Flake 3, 0.05 grams -- max depth 1.5" VDI inconsistent

Split Shot 0.5 grams -- max depth 4.25" VDI 47

Hopefully, these results are helpful.

As a side note...

1 grain = 0.065 grams, 0.42 pennyweight
1 pennyweight = 24 grains, 1.555 grams, 0.05 (1/20) troy ounce
1 gram = 15.432 grains
1 troy ounce = 480 grains, 31.103 grams, 20 pennyweight

As such, at $1800 per troy ounce, a gold nugget weighing 1 grain would be worth $37.80; a gold nugget weighing 1 pennyweight would be worth $90, and a gold nugget weighing 1 gram would be worth $57.88.

Steve
 
Good job Steve well done, MHO that's pretty good stuff by the Bug got to be happy even sounding off on some of those small pieces, i am guessing the 11in coil wouldn't do that well.

the tests fill me with some confidence that if there is small gold i will find it with 5 in coil.

AJ
 
Thanks for taking the time and effort. I may do a test for you guy's and gal's with pop tops, can slaw, staples, 22 casings the kind of S&%$# I have been finding. Stay tuned. HH :teknetics::minelab::rofl:
 
its good and bad the junk it hides the good targets from the not so committed which is good if the time can be put in but it can become very taxing on my brain listening to it all not to mention digging it but its worth it when the goodies come out :sleepy:
 
Great information.This just proves how well of a nugget machine this unit is.I bought it for gold and its amazing disc mode.It still is a very good nugget machine in disc mode-still surprised at just how small of a target it will hit in disc mode.I find alot of the old bottle top skirt thingy's at 1-2" depth.(those little alumnium pieces on the old glass/alumnium top bottles-if you know what I am talking about)
 
Thanks Steve,
Great tests,
Would you mind testing #2 in disc mode and see what you get for me and at turn on Ground balance? I have both the G2 ( version 1)and a older non VCO version 2 of the GB that I would like to compare to and I have a nugget just about that exact size and shape. What version Software is your pro? I know you have posted that before but if you could refresh my memory. This would be greatly appreciated as I have noticed some distinct differences between both my units and having a standard test parameter such as yours really will help.
Thanks again!
HH
 
godigit --

I will try to do as you ask -- but will be a little while. Those were my friend's gold nuggets, and I gave them back to him; he left for Colorado this morning, on a prospecting trip. I'll be joining him there Monday! :) Anyway, I have version 4 software, if I'm not mistaken, but I'll check -- but again, he has my detector (he took it with him, as I am flying in to meet him and didn't want to take the detector on the airplane).

I assume that what you are wanting is the depth I can acquire #2 at, in disc mode? If so, then I'll check it for you as soon as I can -- at turn-on ground balance.

Steve
 
Thanks Much Steve,
No hurry, just have a great time in Colorado and find some big nugs of your own.
HH
 
AJ... I have found that the Gold Bug Pro with the 5-inch 'sniper' coil is amazing... both depth and great
target separation... Also it can be used under high tower power lines.
 
godigit --

I sure do hope to find a few nice pieces of my own -- either with the detector, or while dredging. Actually, we plan to use the detector WITH the dredge -- to help us find which portions of the cracks/crevices in the bedrock at the bottom of the river hold the concentrations of gold -- so we can focus the dredging in those spots. That largest nugget in the picture above? I think that's the one my friend was able to recover with the help of a detector -- they used the detector to locate the portions of the crevice he was working that contained more/larger gold. So, some of the time I'll be helping with the dredging, some of the time I'll be detecting the dry ground on the sides of the river, and some of the time, doing both. Either way, I'm looking forward to it! I now just need to learn to use the Bug in the mineralized ground -- that will be a new thing for me. Lots of black sand up there; I know you can use these machines to find the black sand concentrations (and thus, areas where gold concentrations are also more likely to exist.) I have some learning to do!

Steve
 
You need to learn the sounds.The gold bug pro does not handle hot rocks well.I noticed it sounds off on alot of hot rocks in my search area(east kootenay-BC).In disc mode its alot better but then you sacrifice depth/sensativity.I will say one thing if your in areas infested with iron trash like most of the old mining camps/areas this machine will work where others will not.I have a old mining camp from the 1860's I love looking for gold/relics tried other machiens but so much iron trash they would not funtion.The gold bug pro on lower sensativity works well and ignores that iron trash.
 
hey rockpup -- thanks for the tips...this whole "hot rocks" and "cold rocks" stuff is gonna be a challenge for me -- I don't deal with these things normally. I hear you about using disc mode, but losing depth. I plan to hunt in all metals mode for sure, as most of the gold where I'll be is very small. There is one old prospector's cabin here, according to my friend, and I'll detect this cabin in more of a "standard" hunting mode -- i.e. the same way I'd hunt an old house. However, when in prospecting mode down by the river, I'm gonna have my hands full...I am used to how this machine "behaves" in the sites I hunt; I'm sure it will seem like it's "acting strangely" at times to me when hunting the more mineralized ground I'll be dealing with in this area.

Steve
 
The MOST informative post on gold and depths I have seen so far...
Thanks for sharing...

HH,
 
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