29
Because most gold nuggets are tiny, and are usually found in soil which is high in iron
oxide minerals, serious gold prospecting requires a detector with high sensitivity and
true ground balanced ALL METAL operation Run the machine with the sensitivity high
enough to hear some noise from ground minerals, and learn the language of the sounds
you hear. Headphones are recommended unless consideration for safety (for instance
rattlesnakes) rules them out. Move the search coil slowly and deliberately, carefully
controlling its hear above the ground to minimize noise from iron minerals in the soil. If
you hear ground noise, your GND BAL setting could be a bit off, so perform the ground
balancing procedure again. As you walk even a very short distance, ground conditions
can charge. The ground geology typically associated with gold will tend to change over
very short distances.
The Fe
3
O
4
bar graph indicates the amount of iron mineralization in the soil. In most gold
fields, especially alluvial (placer) deposits, gold tends to be associated with iron minerals,
especially magnetite black sand. If you know this to be the case in the area you are
working, you can maximize your gold recovery by concentrating your effort on areas
where the bar graph indicates higher amounts of iron mineralization.
Gold prospectors are mostly a friendly bunch, and willing to spend some time showing a
beginner how to increase his odds of finding the yellow stuff. Many will invite you to
search on their claims (if they have any) once they get to know you. In some gold areas,
a lot of the terrain is under claim, so you need to learn how to recognize posted claims
and stay off of them unless you have the claim owner’s permission. Prospecting clubs
such as the Gold Prospector Association of America (GPAA) often own claims which are
open to its members and sponsor group outings to productive gold prospecting areas.
It’s a thrilling experience to dig into the ground and pull out a precious piece of yellow
metal that you are the first person on earth to see. If you love being outdoors, have
patience, and can stay motivated by the prospect of finding that next nugget, then
beeping for gold may be the hobby for you. While only a few get rich prospecting, if you
are not among them, think of it as outdoor recreation where your finds defray the
expense of having fun!
