Question for Yanks & Aussies

[findgold]

I am in the market for my first detector and I live in the Motherlode area of Northern California. I also intend to make the occasional trip to the desert area of Nevada and Arizona. I will be using my detector mainly for gold prospecting. The ground aroud here is quite mineralizied, lots of hot rocks, etc. Realistically, I don't need a detector that is able to detect nuggets several feet underground. I would also like a detector that is sensitive to the smaller gold.
My question is, if you had around $2,000.00 to spend on one detector, what would be your choice? Is a Minelab SD detector a worthwhile investment for my needs, or could I get by with a good VLF detector? On the VLF side, I have looked at both the White's GMT and the Minelab X-terra 70. All suggestions are greatly appreciated!!!!

 

[fredm]

Having lived in Portola, Calif I suggest a good vlf for the descrimination abilities...but you can't beat the Minelab PI for depth in heavy mineralization...one of each is a better way to go, for $2000 you could swing a used Pi and a vlf...

Fred

 

[findgold]

Thanks for the suggestion, Fred!

 

[tab-nabit]

After the hints of a new Whites PI unit about to hit the market - you could wait to see what its all about.
A friend hunts in N. Calif with a GMT and has done ok, not great but his experience is limited. He was going to get the Minelab 2200 as someone had suggested it to him at the time, but the price was more than he wanted to dish out.
I have used 3 older Gold-Masters (GM-2, GM-3 & GM-4B). I never got much more than some pickers, but my experience is limited also. I was only going out a few times a year and actually spent more time with a pan and sluice.
After being out of it awhile, I sometimes get the urge of getting a gold machine again but wouldn't know what to get right now. I'm behind times.

 

[impactco]

A friend of mine has my old GP Extreme and uses a 14" Nuggetfinder XP DD coil in the detector's Enhanced mode. I have seen him find nuggets as small as .1 gram in very hot mineralized ground. This combination might be had for under $2000.

 

[Idaho-Marke]

The idea of waiting for the new White's PI is a good one unless you are in a great hurry. If there is a PI with discrimination, that would be worth waiting for.

If it is as you say "I will be using my detector mainly for gold prospecting.", I've seen first hand the depth advantage of a big minelab over my XT-70 and F-75. If you are going for the gold, use what the pros use in that area. If you are considering an XT-70 for nugget shooting, also then consider the F-75. I own them both and enjoy them both, but neither can get the depth of a big minelab. Of note would be the weight factor if that is a concern. Something to consider.

Good luck and HH

Marke

 

[findgold]

Thanks for the great advice Tab-Nabit, Marke and Impacto. I was thinking about waiting for the White's PI to come out, however, I don't want to wait too long!

 

[Eu_citzen]

For small gold a GMT or gold Bug II.(this depends on your definition of "small gold")
For big and deep a ML will do fine.

I've heard the Garrett Infinium LS should do ok to for big gold.(it's a PI with ground balance)

Regards,
Eu

 

[bearkat4160]

0.2 gram at 3 inches from reports I've heard in the field now. Thats better than they used to be. Finally Garrett is getting the Infinium in more sensitive territory, than it used to be.

 

[fredm]

Findgold, there are some killer deals on Rob's forum for used Pi detectors...check it out...nuggethunting forum....

Fred