Ghost Signals

[Joe T. Reasure]

I was using my Vaquero today in a park that I have a lot of luck at. So far I have found hunreds of coins, keys, and one gold ring. Today, twice, I got a solid, repeatable signal.

After digging a plug I kept getting a signal in the center of the hole. I kept digging and kept getting the same signal. The signal remained even when I turned up the disc to max. I had dug so deep that I figured it would be a large piece of rusty iron. After digging to a point that I was past the handle of my tool, the signal completely disappreared. It wasn't in the hole, and it wasn't in the pile of dirt. This happened twice. Has this ever happened to any of you? What is the cause?

 

[Elton]

YES ! it most likely was iron that rusted to dust particals. Once you broke it up with the digging it's gone.

 

[tab-nabit]

Rust in the soil - halo effect - broken up from the digging.

 

[tabdog]

n/t

 

[rentasquid]

and when you dig them up, you see a streak of rust(or a pocket) but it gets disappated by digging it up.

J.

 

[Pap]

Did you check both in all metal?
Pap

 

[tabdog]

n/t

 

[Joe T. Reasure]

Do you mean that sensitivity too high will make pinpointing difficult? Because I have had that problem also, and have just given up on the hole. I always hunt with my sensitivity on max. When should I not do that?

Thank you for the advice!

 

[Joe T. Reasure]

n/t

 

[Joe T. Reasure]

n/t

 

[Joe T. Reasure]

Thank you everybody for the info. I am sure it was iron deposits now that you all have confirmed it.

Tabdog, I haven't figured out how to respond directly to your post about sensitivity, but my response about that is directed at your comment concerning the silver bell (nice find by the way).

Thank you again.

 

[tabdog]

n/t

 

[markg]

[quote Pap]Did you check both in all metal?
Pap[/quote]That was going to by my answer. Way to go Pap.

 

[tabdog]

n/t

 

[Joe T. Reasure]

Thank you Tabdog and all for the information. I'm set to go out for an hour or so this morning, back to the park. Happy hunting!

 

[randyalbin]

n/t

 

[Canewrap]

Thanks Joe, this little story is a big help. I've had those ghost signals and always assumed it was a real small target I couldn't find because of the MXT's tendency to pick up something as small as a bb.

 

[tabdog]

n/t

 

[randyalbin]

n/t

 

[Joe T. Reasure]

Wow. Great story about the Indian Head cent. I'm guessing the copper from the penny made a trail in the soil as it sank over the years, making it easier to detect initially. Then, once you broke that trail, the signal became too weak (not to mention the penny on its side). I have given up on signals like that many times. I wonder how many of those were actually great finds that were lost due to inexperience?

I haven't found any silver yet with my Vaqueros. I've been hunting a park area, its actually a strip separating a boulevard, that is used heavily for jogging, walking, etc. I have found hundreds of coins, some cheap jewelry, a gold ring, and high school necklace pendant. The area used to be a trolley line, back in the day. I know somebody beat me to the spot, but one would think there would still be some Merc dimes hanging around. I did find one wheat penny.

But, the problem with Wheaties is that you never know when they were lost. I wonder if I'm not digging targets that I should be digging because I don't know exactly how my machine will react to deep silver. Any thoughts?