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Mineralization Determination:rage:

pacer

Member
My latest question pertains to mineralization. More specifically, how to determine what exactly constitutes to much or to little mineralization. I ask this because I would like to create my own search mode. Mineralization is mentioned throughout Andy's CTX 3030 Handbook numerous times. Example being the table found on page 38, under the mineralization column, where it lists Low-Medium, Low-Medium-High, Low and High. I understand there are different degrees of mineralization found in any given area, my problem how do you actually differentiate between the levels of mineralization in any given local? Is there a actual scientific equation to determine the level of mineralization, or is it anybody's best guess?
 
Yes, it does vary from different location to different location but can actually vary from almost foot to foot in the same location. Its just the way it is. Generally speaking, the further you go inland, the worse mineralization gets.
 
Unless you are in some seriously mineralized soils, I wouldn't switch from the factory default of GB OFF. The CTX 3030 implements multi-period rectangular waves, which results in having several different frequency R signals. These are used to more accurately determine time constants of targets because they are not contaminated by soil mineralization X signals.
Here are a couple good articles from Minelab's website.

http://www.minelab.com/__files/f/11043/KBA%2000-1%20Metal%20Detector%20Basics%20and%20Theory.pdf


http://www.minelab.com/__files/f/12476/KBA%2019-1%20Ground%20Mineralisation.pdf
 
I think that tbw is referring to the target separation modes on pg 37&38 of Andy's book. I find it a bit frustrating that Minelab, and Andy also, recommend that certain settings be used based on ground mineralization levels, yet neither offers at least general parameters to go by. A good deal of my hunting is done in Auto+3, and I use the sensitivity number that the machine is running at (the white one, not the green one) as a guide to determine mineralization levels. My *guess* on this one: 0 to low teens = high mineralization, low teens to low 20's = moderate, & low 20's up to 30 is mild. It would be nice however, if someone from the company could clarify this.
 
I'm not "from the company". But here is my take.......Sensitivity controls the detector’s response to received signals from metal targets under the coil, as well as electronic noise and ground noise. Increasing the sensitivity level may make the metal targets more detectable. But it can also increase the detector noise from those other influences. When set to Auto Sensitivity, the detector continuously measures the response from the ground and adjusts the Sensitivity level to where it minimizes the effects of those ground signals.

The CTX 3030 has three internal signal channels (high, medium and low) used to identify targets. The CTX 3030 continually measures the magnetic ground interferences that affect these channels and adjusts the level of Sensitivity individually for each channel, to provide the most stable TID for each channel.

When using Auto Sensitivity, the left bar and numeric value indicates the highest Sensitivity Level that either the high, medium or low channel is operating on. The right bar indicates the "Suggested" Sensitivity Level, as determined by the CTX 3030. This "Suggested" level is the average Sensitivity Level of the high, medium and low channels. Each channel is set to a different level of Sensitivity individually by the CTX 3030 to provide the most stable TID's. As an example....... if the CTX 3030 determines the Sensitivity Level for each channel is to be High = 20, Medium = 17 and Low = 11, the left hand bar and numeric indicator will read 20, representing the highest Sensitivity level of the three channels. The right bar and numeric indicator will display the average of the three channels, which is 16. 20 + 17 + 11 = 48, divided by 3 = 16. When you implement the Auto Sensitivity offset with an offset of +3, it will not suddenly change the value of both bars by 3. Instead, it increases each channel's value by 3. So in the example given earlier, the channels will become High = 23, Medium =20 and Low = 14. 23 + 20 + 14 = 57, divided by 3 = 19. So the left bar and numeric indicator will display 23, representing the highest Sensitivity level of the three channels. And the right bar and numeric indicator will display 19, the average of the three channels. When using an "offset" the numeric value of that offset will also be displayed in a little icon, to the left of the left Sensitivity bar.

In Manual Sensitivity, the left bar and numeric indicator represent the level you have set. The right bar indicates the "Suggested" level, just as it does in the Auto Sensitivity mode.

The primary difference between using Auto Sensitivity and Manual Sensitivity is that in Manual, ALL three channels are set to the same value. In Auto, the CTX 3030 determines the value most stable channel. Auto Sensitivity with the offset allows you to "offset" each channel by a value from -3 to +3. The offset allows the user to be more conservative, or aggressive than the one chosen by the CTX 3030, while allowing it to "compensate" for ground interference changes during your hunt.

Living in a part of the Country that primarily comprised of what I would refer to as moderately mineralized ground, it is tough for me to make a blanket statement that reflects what everyone might encounter. And I can't speak for what Andy might be eluding to in his book. However, what I have found is that the CTX does an excellent job of "compensating" for the changes in mineralization levels, as well as performing well in those areas with higher levels of mineralization (that I occasionally encounter). When I do hit areas that are more highly mineralized, my Auto-Sensitivity level will take a dip. When it does, I find that slowing down my sweep speed allows me to maintain my preferred Sensitivity setting, which is typically Auto with an offset of +2 or +3. JMO.
 
Digger said:
I'm not "from the company". But here is my take.......Sensitivity controls the detector’s response to received signals from metal targets under the coil, as well as electronic noise and ground noise. Increasing the sensitivity level may make the metal targets more detectable. But it can also increase the detector noise from those other influences. When set to Auto Sensitivity, the detector continuously measures the response from the ground and adjusts the Sensitivity level to where it minimizes the effects of those ground signals.

The CTX 3030 has three internal signal channels (high, medium and low) used to identify targets. The CTX 3030 continually measures the magnetic ground interferences that affect these channels and adjusts the level of Sensitivity individually for each channel, to provide the most stable TID for each channel.

When using Auto Sensitivity, the left bar and numeric value indicates the highest Sensitivity Level that either the high, medium or low channel is operating on. The right bar indicates the "Suggested" Sensitivity Level, as determined by the CTX 3030. This "Suggested" level is the average Sensitivity Level of the high, medium and low channels. Each channel is set to a different level of Sensitivity individually by the CTX 3030 to provide the most stable TID's. As an example....... if the CTX 3030 determines the Sensitivity Level for each channel is to be High = 20, Medium = 17 and Low = 11, the left hand bar and numeric indicator will read 20, representing the highest Sensitivity level of the three channels. The right bar and numeric indicator will display the average of the three channels, which is 16. 20 + 17 + 11 = 48, divided by 3 = 16. When you implement the Auto Sensitivity offset with an offset of +3, it will not suddenly change the value of both bars by 3. Instead, it increases each channel's value by 3. So in the example given earlier, the channels will become High = 23, Medium =20 and Low = 14. 23 + 20 + 14 = 57, divided by 3 = 19. So the left bar and numeric indicator will display 23, representing the highest Sensitivity level of the three channels. And the right bar and numeric indicator will display 19, the average of the three channels. When using an "offset" the numeric value of that offset will also be displayed in a little icon, to the left of the left Sensitivity bar.

In Manual Sensitivity, the left bar and numeric indicator represent the level you have set. The right bar indicates the "Suggested" level, just as it does in the Auto Sensitivity mode.

The primary difference between using Auto Sensitivity and Manual Sensitivity is that in Manual, ALL three channels are set to the same value. In Auto, the CTX 3030 determines the value most stable channel. Auto Sensitivity with the offset allows you to "offset" each channel by a value from -3 to +3. The offset allows the user to be more conservative, or aggressive than the one chosen by the CTX 3030, while allowing it to "compensate" for ground interference changes during your hunt.

Living in a part of the Country that primarily comprised of what I would refer to as moderately mineralized ground, it is tough for me to make a blanket statement that reflects what everyone might encounter. And I can't speak for what Andy might be eluding to in his book. However, what I have found is that the CTX does an excellent job of "compensating" for the changes in mineralization levels, as well as performing well in those areas with higher levels of mineralization (that I occasionally encounter). When I do hit areas that are more highly mineralized, my Auto-Sensitivity level will take a dip. When it does, I find that slowing down my sweep speed allows me to maintain my preferred Sensitivity setting, which is typically Auto with an offset of +2 or +3. JMO.

I know this post has been quoted,I quoted it myself somewhere. But nobody in this thread gave you direct “props” for actually explaining this whole thing,which to many has/had been a big black box-o-magic. So....thanks,and PROPS!:)
 
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