Author Topic: How small a bit of gold can a detector detect? (Read 457 times)

Zongo · « **on:** February 06, 2012, 20:05 »

G'day

I have a question that I hope someone can help me with. I am wondering what is the minimum size (roughly) that a metal detector can pick up a trace of gold? In a testing sense. In this sense I am not considering ground minerals or other external interference. Just say in a lab if one was to put a unit to a test.

I have a Garrett ace 350 and I ran a bottle of gold flakes which would amount collectivley to the size of 2-3 grains of rice under it. (no it didn't detect them). Now I know this machine is not designed for this purpose but it crossed my mind if there are detectors that would pick up flakes in a bottle as a test. Or, are there machines that will definitley find flakes?

Probabley a silly question but just curiousity from a newbie.

Thanks

Rwork · « **Reply #1 on:** February 06, 2012, 22:02 »

Our 4500 and 50's will pick up pinhead size gold down a few inches (over 50mm) in pipe clay. Some of the goldbugs may equal that also but the minelabs still work well in very mineralised ground also.

neddy · « **Reply #2 on:** February 06, 2012, 23:38 »

This was found with Gold Bug 2 I have found smaller. there is a dress making pin to give some idea of size

Zongo · « **Reply #3 on:** February 07, 2012, 06:16 »

Thanks Rwork & Neddy.

That certainly answers my questions.

Adrian ss · « **Reply #4 on:** February 07, 2012, 08:26 »

My V-Sat will respond to gold flake/foil at 2 inches that I can see light through and will not register on a 0.001 gm accuracy scale. It is approx 3mm x 2mm

Thylacine · « **Reply #5 on:** February 07, 2012, 15:23 »

Zongo.

What coil and coil size were you using?

Zongo · « **Reply #6 on:** February 07, 2012, 18:27 »

Quote from: Thylacine on February 07, 2012, 15:23

Zongo.

What coil and coil size were you using?

G'day I was using the 11" x 8" DD coil that came with it. I have tried it again in an air test and I got some tones waving it around under it at about 3" so I was sorta pleased with that. However, it was sort of touch and go as the flecks moved around in the bottle.

steadyon · « **Reply #7 on:** February 07, 2012, 20:12 »

I picked up 10 pieces 0.1 to 0.06 grams at 2 to 3inches in high mineralized ground, with gp3500 after a 4500 and 5000 had chained the patch I used the same coil as them, and the gold gave a good signal.

regards steadyon

Irish9 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2012, 08:28 »

With the GPX4000 and the 14inch mono coil I got a .08 bit for the smallest bit last week, biggest was only .25 though. Got a .02ish bit a little while ago with the 6 inch too.

I must say I'm impressed with the goldbug performance, that is tiny gold! That could be very handy for dig and detect sites where there is no water to sluice.

Detrackozi · « **Reply #9 on:** February 12, 2012, 20:03 »

Hi Zongo

Here is a Vid clip of some Nuggets I ran across my E-Trac and Goldsnoop

http://youtu.be/Ai6DqGlC0M8

Out come on how they read

E-Trac Range
17.6 =120 to 135mm
9.4=100 to 120mm
5.2=100 to 110mm
3.6=80 to 100mm
0.1=10 to 25mm

Goldsnoop Range
17.6=100 to 110mm
9.4=100 to 110mm
5.4=100 to 110mm
3.6=80 to 90mm
0.1= on coil only