Choosing Metal Detector for Gold

What to Consider When Choosing Metal Detector for Gold

Many dream of having their own personal gold rush, but in order to become a gold prospector, you need the right tools. While all metal detectors are capable of finding gold coins and jewelry, a specialty device is needed when hunting for gold nuggets. Shopping for the best metal detectors for gold online, however, can quickly become overwhelming since there are so many options available at a wide range of prices.

This article breaks down what to look for when shopping for the best metal detector for gold and discusses the key considerations to keep in mind as you shop.

While it’s easy to assume that all metal detectors offer similar performance, a number of factors affect their functionality. Features like operating frequency, ground balance, search modes, and item discrimination can make one better for a user’s needs than another option. Keep reading to learn about these important features to consider when choosing the best metal detector for gold.

VLF vs. PI

There are two primary types of metal detectors: very low frequency (VLF) and pulse indicator (PI). Each has advantages and disadvantages.

VLF metal detectors are simple and affordable. They feature two coils. One creates a magnetic field, and the other detects vibrations within that field. Since their design is more streamlined, they are typically more compact and lightweight.
PI metal detectors typically use a single coil that both transmits a magnetic field and detects vibrations and disturbances. This style of metal detector is better at avoiding natural minerals common in the soil of beaches and other sandy areas. They tend to be more expensive than their VLF counterparts and are generally used by experienced individuals.

Mineralization

In the simplest terms for metal detection purposes, mineralization is the very slow process of organic compounds converting to minerals. This happens in the soil over many millennia and results in the soil containing numerous particles that have characteristics of metal, including magnetism. These particles produce a magnetic response in metal detectors but aren’t the desirable bits of metal, such as gold, that hobbyists are searching for. Basically, they’re just “noise.”

Gold, in fact, is typically found in areas where the earth contains a high quantity of these trace, undesirable minerals.

Ground Balance

Sensitive metal detectors are capable of detecting even the smallest quantities of metal present underground, but this can become an issue in areas of high mineralization. Fortunately, most high-quality metal detectors feature ground balancing, which essentially programs the device to ignore these undesirable metals.

Beginner-level metal detectors typically feature automatic ground balancing, so the user doesn’t need to fiddle with any complicated controls. More advanced models, however, may require the user to adjust the ground balance levels depending on the type of terrain they’re working in. While automatic ground balancing contributes to ease of use, manual ground balancing offers greater precision.

It’s a good idea to choosing a Metal Detector that offers object discrimination to further narrow down the search results.

Discrimination

The simplest metal detectors simply alert users to all types of metal, whereas more advanced models offer item discrimination, which allows users to identify a certain type of metal. This feature is essential when searching for gold since most users aren’t simultaneously seeking other metals. The most comprehensive metal detectors even have a specific target, like coins or jewelry.

Once the detector identifies an object, it typically alerts the user with an auditory signal. Many models use audio with various pitches that differentiate between types of objects. Some advanced metal detectors also have a screen that shows an image of the type of object that has been detected.

Operating Frequency

When choosing a gold detector, the device’s operating frequency is a key consideration. The operating frequency of a metal detector is measured in kilohertz (kHz) and represents the number of times per second that a signal is sent to the receiver.

Metal detectors operating at lower frequencies are capable of detecting objects buried several feet underground, but a higher frequency is needed when searching for gold because gold pieces tend to be very small. While standard VLF metal detectors operate at frequencies of between 6 and 10 kHz, users require a higher frequency of at least 15 kHz when searching for gold. This helps users avoid more common metals and focus specifically on finding gold. PI detectors operate differently, using bursts of electrical current, and operate at much lower frequencies.

Search Coils

Metal detectors depend on their coils to produce results. The size and type of these coils have a major impact on a metal detector’s performance. Larger coils are able to penetrate deeper into the earth, while smaller coils are more sensitive and can identify smaller targets.

There are two types of coils used for metal detectors: concentric and wide scan. Concentric coils provide better discrimination, making them ideal for areas containing lots of trash. Wide scan coils aren’t as adept at avoiding trash, but they do have better ground balancing for areas with high levels of mineralization.