sufficient mass to disrupt the EMF. I know people who buy a detector, for whatever applications they might have, then use it in locations where you seldom get anything except a small showing of flour gold after working a good sized pan full of material. Gold needs to be of a sufficient size to be found, so make sure you locate gold 'nugget' potential locations.
St Bernard said:
I have a new MXT coming soon.
Curious, is it the standard MXT or the newer or revised MXT Pro [size=small](or MXT All-Pro, same detector)[/size]?
St Bernard said:
I am buying it for general detecting.
General detecting? To most hobbyists that is Coin & Jewelry Hunting, and for some it is Coin & Jewelry as well as Relic Hunting, and that is what the MXT/MXT Pro was designed for. When you add the ability for a detector to work acceptably for electronic prospecting, the MXT series has that ability as well with the All Metal 'Prospecting' mode. It is a true "multi-purpose" detector.
St Bernard said:
Is this a good detector for serious gold detecting at 14KHz?
That would depend on your definition of 'serious,' as well as the types of sites you hunt. For me, I liked the MXT and MXT Pro for some occasional gold nugget prospecting, and had some success when things were in my favor.
St Bernard said:
I see most used for strictly gold detecting operate in the 19KHz, 48KHZ, up to 71KHz zone.
The higher-frequency models, in the LF range, such as the 48-50 kHz White's and 71 kHz Fisher Gold Bug II, lack any variable Discrimination and, by design and selection of that higher frequency, are more responsive to the tinier-size gold specimens, such as grain or even sub-grain size. The new Makro Gold Racer, a LF design at 56 kHz, does have two Discrimination modes to broaden the usefulness of the detector, although it is still mainly produced for hunting the smaller-size gold better than the lower-frequency models. In time we will see how functional it is for Relic Hunting at that higher LF frequency range.
Most Gold Nugget Hunting detectors, as you noted, that are in the VLF range, are generally also Discriminating models and are promoted as "multi-purpose" detectors mainly for Coin & Jewelry Hunting, Relic Hunting, and boast the ability to be used for Gold Nugget Hunting. They have been produced from about 14 kHz [size=small](Whites MXT and Makro Racer)[/size], 15 kHz [size=small](Garrett Gold Stinger, Nokta FORS CoRe and Nokta Fors Gold)[/size], 19 kHz [size=small](like the Fisher original Gold Bug, Gold Bug Pro and F19, Teknetics G2 and G2+, and Nokta FORS Gold +)[/size], 17.8 kHz [size=small](Tesoro Lobo SuperTRAQ and Diablo µMAX)[/size], and about 20 kHz [size=small](Tesoro 'original' Lobo)[/size] to reference some of the current or more recent models.
So, as you can see, the MXT/MXT Pro at ±14 kHz is in that multi-versatile group.
St Bernard said:
I do not mind getting another one strictly designed for gold prospecting. Several I have looked at are the Whites GMT, the Nokta ForsGold, Gold Bug 2 in that price range.
Of those, the Nokta FORS Gold operates at 15 kHz and is essentially the same performance as the FORS Coin & Relic, except the CoRe has an additional mode designed for hunting salt water beaches. The FORS CoRe replaced the MXT Pro in my personal battery last January due to functions, performance, and some improved performance on a couple of small gold 'pickers' I have in a glass vial for detector evaluations.
For more serious gold nugget hunting, including some enhancement on smaller-size gold [size=small](which tends to be what we are more likely to find if in the right area)[/size] I will rely on my new FORS Gold + which I will also use for some Relic Hunting, if need be, when in gold prospecting country where I might encounter a mining camp or mining town. Those are just
my choices, but
your MXT/MXT Pro can also be used for such hunting requirements.
St Bernard said:
What is the best coil for these detectors. I want the best coil and do not mind buying another coil other than the one they come with.
Honestly, search coil choices, just like detector selection, is a personal matter, but since you asked, here are my choices and suggestions:
For the MXT or MXT Pro I have had my best all-around success with the 6½" round Concentric search coil [size=small](the 5.3 Eclipse)[/size] which performs the best in iron infested sites and old littered towns and such, and has produced the best response and success for me with those models on gold nuggets. For a little better coverage, perhaps, you might consider the 6X10 DD coil, but I dumped mine as the 6½" Concentric served me well.
St Bernard said:
I have a 6X9 DD and a 13" Ultimate DD coil coming with the MXT which comes with the 10" DD coil. All feedback appreciated. Thanks
Well, your 13" Ultimate isn't a coil I care for because it didn't [size=small](I tried it)[/size] provide me any benefits for the types of sites I hunt. The 6X10 DD is fine for open-area searches and hunting
away from dense trash, especially iron. So I'd suggest you consider adding a 6½" Concentric coil to your set-up.
Monte
