Quote from Big D on April 16, 2025, 11:33 pm

🔍 What Makes a Good Gold Detector?

Gold is tricky to find because:

• It’s often deep or small

• It’s found in mineralized ground (lots of iron-rich soil that messes with normal detectors)

So you want a detector with:

• High frequency (more sensitive to small gold nuggets)

• Ground balancing (to deal with mineralized soil)

• Pulse Induction (PI) or Very Low Frequency (VLF) tech (both have pros/cons—more on that below)

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⚙️ Types of Detectors

1. VLF Detectors (Very Low Frequency)

• Better for small gold nuggets

• Lighter, cheaper

• Struggles in super mineralized ground

Top Picks:

• Fisher Gold Bug 2 (great sensitivity)

• Minelab Gold Monster 1000 (auto ground balance, user-friendly)

2. PI Detectors (Pulse Induction)

• Better for larger, deeper gold

• Works well in highly mineralized soil

• More expensive, heavier

Top Picks:

• Minelab GPX 6000 (pro-level, great depth)

• Garrett ATX (rugged, all-terrain)

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💰 Budget Ranges

Budget	Options
<$500	Fisher Gold Bug, Nokta Simplex+
$500–$1,000	Gold Monster 1000, Garrett Ace Apex
$1,000+	Minelab GPX series, Garrett ATX

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🏕️ Where to Use It?

Look for:

• Old goldfields or historic mining areas

• Dry washes, creeks, and riverbeds

• Public lands with open prospecting rules (check local laws!)