Introductions...

[Docwalker]

Greetings;

I ordered the X-Terra 70 yesterday from AKMINING "AMDS". With the new detector I've also included a 10X5 DD Elliptical coil, a 6" DD both 18.75khz. and other small parts. I haven't got the foggiest idea how to use the detector yet (learning curve) but I intend to practice the rest of this year so I can get serious on the claims on the Klamath, Scott and Salmon Rivers of Northern California, next summer.

I am a member of GPAA and have a life membership with The New 49'rs in Northern California www.goldgold.com. I started prospecting when I was 8 years old, some 51 years ago with my father on the Rogue and Illinois Rivers of Oregon with our (huge metal) gold pans. I have never lost the desire to see what's in the bottom of the pan and I think I'll be the same when it comes to seeing what's in the bottom of the hole while detecting.

I am pretty much retired. I have done a bunch of things to make money: U.S. Navy, King Crabbing in Alaska on the MV Tiffany, managing small business, driving a cement mixer truck, Tractor trailer truck, not to mention credentials as a Certified Hypnotherapist and most recently building websites and playing at being a (amateur) professional photographer. If you'd care to see some of my design work, check out my Website. www.BillLamica.com. I am not searching for new work so relax when you view the site, I am not taking on any new projects.

I probably wont post again until I begin to seriously use the 70 and after I can determine what questions to ask. So far, I've read almost all of the posts here, as well as the posts on the MTX and the Infinium. So, I have the basics and have chosen VLF and the 70. I found some great videos on U-tube and I've downloaded the owners manual, printed it out and read it cover to cover. Of course without the machine I do not understand it all, but that will come.

When I retired a couple of years ago, I sold my house in San Francisco (Pacifica actually) and became a full time RV'r. I spend a few months here in Grants Pass, Oregon and will be in Happy Camp, CA for the summer next year and then find someplace to go where I can either prospect of catch fish for the rest of the year. The people who retire and cannot find enough to do, would go nuts following me around. But, they would sleep good.

Thanks to everyone who has posted information, videos and more about all of the Detectors and a special thanks for you all who own and share information about the X-Terra 70. The forum and you folks convinced me to give this machine a try... I cannot wait!

That's enough for now but I'm pretty sure I'll begin asking questions in a few weeks. Or, if for some reason I happen upon a great find while practicing, I'll be sure to post a photo and brag!

P.S. DocWalker came from my sailing days. I created and maintain a website for the Montgomery Sailboat Owners. It's one of the sites on my home page. If you like small, seaworthy sailboats, check out the 2000 plus photos on the site www.MSOGPhotoSite.com Anyway "DocWalker" came about after I sold my last sailboat and spent my time walking the Docks of the SF Bay Area in search of the next best sailboat I've ever owned!
The group began to call me Dock Walker, hence the handle DocWalker. I always use my sir name while doing business. But... my friends call me Doc.
I promise to always have a few aspirin and a sharp knife on hand in case I need to do emergency surgery on a fellow prospectors in the field.
And I promise, with my steady hand, you'll get what you pay for! It's free!

Regards, Doc (Bill Lamica)

 

[Bill_S]

Welcome to the forum. I also have an X-Terra 70 and the two coils you mentioned. The little 6" coil is awesome in trashy areas and goes deep too. The 70 is not hard to use at all and you should have it figured out in no time. Keep us posted on your progress and the finds you make.....

 

[nero_design]

Welcome Doc.
I'm a former film designer from the Hollywood lifestyle. Click on my profile for details on my film-making background. The crisp clean air of the Australian Goldfields make a stark contrast to city life for me. I really wish I had discovered Prospecting and Relic Hunting earlier on but I'm able to combine my interests in Prospecting and Photography now. I've enjoyed the activity so much that I haven't returned to film production.

You should do VERY well with the X-Terra 70... its VFLEX signal processing is more advanced than what most other VLF detectors offer. It's still a VLF detector but the signal is stabilized for better Target ID. The lighter weight of this detector should make it a pleasure to carry and use although if you've been king crabbing in Alaska, you won't find much else in the world to complain about. Enjoy your new interests and be sure to read up on your manual or seek advice & suggestions online.


Cheers,


Marco Nero

 

[khouse]

The 70 can be a turn on and hunt machine if you want. Or you can tweak it to your liking too. Very easy to use. Good choice of machine. Now get to digging........

 

[Beale]

Welcome to the site and congrats on the X-Terra! Very good choice, i wish you good luck with it, Beale.

 

[I a thr]

n/t

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Hi Doc: I use my X-70 for gold hunting. I use the prospect mode with the iron mask up to 2 to locate a target (hopefully gold) then switch to the coin mode to get an ID on the screen. If the ID is in the range for nuggets, I switch back to the prospect mode to dig the target. The FAQ at the top of this forum has some very good information to help you to get the best performance from your X-70.

 

[Docwalker]

Marco; I looked at your profile. You have worked on some of my favorite films... How cool!
I do not shoot video. However I do like to shoot still shots. I have an older Cannon 5d and
the new Cannon Rebel 450 (AKA XSi). And of course a bucket full of lenses. Quite allot like
the X-70 with the various coils and their applications

Thanks to all of you for the warm reception: I spent countless hours on the FAQFAQ section
over the past few weeks. That BarnacleBill guy has compiled quite an assortment of learning
tools, and It's appreciated. That section as well as general posts are what drove me to order
the X-70.

As soon as my order shows up I intend to follow the manuals advice and begin with some random
type and size targets to get the feel of the machine and then use a few nuggets to help me determine
their signature. I intend to use small zip lock bags to hold the trial gold nuggets and I'll try a sampling
of large flakes, to see if I can get a hint on how to use the X-70 for electronic sampling to find pay
streaks... before I dig holes and carry those heavy buckets of material to the water for processing.

It is common to find layers above the bedrock in Northern California Rivers. This flood gold tends to
collect in the same area even at different depths. So, the logic is to find a pay streak that was laid
down most recently (past few years) and within a few inches of the surface. When that top streak is
found, you dig deeper to find a different color layer and find a similar pay streak on the top of
that layer, and so on.
Very easy pickings... but, you've got to find the pay streak, and that ain't easy

Thanks to all... I'll post again in a few weeks.

Doc