Can metal detectors detect gold ?

Can metal detectors detect gold ?

Detect gold is the focus of attention for many lovers of precious metals and prospectors in this field, as gold is the first and fastest step to reach wealth and luxury, so how can it not be one of the most important minerals in the world! The presence of gold is largely concentrated near rivers and along streams, where prospectors in this context use several means, including ancient primitive ones that depend on humans in themselves, including modern and advanced ones that rely on exploration devices, equipment and advanced technology in prospecting and metal detection, especially gold. If you have a metal detector and want to detect gold, you should have more information about metal detectors and the types of things that can be found. Initially, you can detect gold nuggets with a metal detector, only if this detector has ground leveling features and the option to detect gold, among other functions.

What is a metal detector to detect gold? 

You can detect gold with a metal detector, but it will be difficult to find small nuggets if you do not have a gold detector. Gold detector does not work like other traditional metals; It works by induction of the pulse present in the detectors; Also, the frequency operation of metal detectors is different. If you try to search with a conventional detector, you can find a lot of garbage. Gold detectors have a perfect ground balance between exploration of mineralized earth and the presence of pulse induction. Some metal detectors have preset settings for locating metals and gold, but not all devices have these built in functions.

Can metal detectors detect gold? 

Yes, there are certainly many metal detectors whose function is to detect gold. With the development of manufacturers in the production of many modern metal detectors, there are devices whose mission is not limited to detecting gold only, but the function of these devices has become more accurate in the exploration process. As gold detectors are available in the market, specialized in detecting small gold nuggets, and a device specialized in detecting buried gold bars. There are metal detectors that can detect gold. Gold, like other metal compounds, can be found using a metal detector that has been optimized for the conditions of gold being present.

Why can’t all metal detectors detect gold? 

Metal detectors work by creating a small magnetic field that then responds to objects hidden in the ground. The response you receive from a metal detector depends on several things: 

• Detector’s frequency. 

• Conductivity of hidden materials. 
• Soil or land type 
• Object size 
• Body depth. 

This is why not all metal detectors can consistently or accurately detect gold grains or gold nuggets. 

Low-frequency detectors are not good at finding gold due to the gold’s size and poor conductivity. On the other hand, higher frequency metal detectors are generally better at finding gold because they can identify smaller materials more accurately, and gold has better conductivity with higher frequency waves than lower ones.

Some of the metal detectors that detect gold 

• Garrett AT Water Resistant Gold Detector:

This is designed to detect gold nuggets in the most challenging prospecting environments, including shallow water fishing. The Garrett AT Gold operates at a high frequency optimized for gold prospecting and includes a True All-Metal mode. All-Metal mode is preferred for prospecting because it provides the greatest possible depth and sensitivity. The Garrett AT Gold is designed to be one of the most effective gold metal detectors possible while staying within the price range of most hobbyists. One of AT Gold’s most revered features is the high operating frequency at which it operates, catching even the smallest gold nuggets you may encounter. This feature alone puts the Garrett AT Gold above other mid-tier metal detectors designed for gold prospecting. 

• Minelab Gold Monster 1000:

With fully automatic operation, this device turns beginners into experts into an easy-to-use, high-performance detector. The Gold Monster 1000 comes with a selection of coils, battery options, and shaft configurations. If you are looking for ultra sensitive gold performance at a great price, this is the detector you have been waiting for. 

• Fisher Gold Bug Device :

The Fisher Gold Bug is one of the most powerful gold detectors. If you are looking for a metal detector for gold prospecting, or don’t want to make a large initial investment, Gold Bug will be the perfect metal detector for you. The Fisher Gold Bug comes with a 5-DD search coil that can sniff out the smallest gold nuggets. Compared to some competing metal detectors, choosing this search coil can be good or bad for each detector, depending on their hunting environment.

• Nokta Macro device:

It is a metal detector designed for one purpose only: detect gold. Looking at the Gold Finder’s control box, you’ll see a variety of knobs and switches, each with its own purpose in detect gold! While the Gold Finder lacks an LCD screen, it doesn’t lack gold-specific features! 

The device has a frequency of 56 kHz, and the VLF (Very Low Frequency) detector excels at finding tiny gold nuggets. The higher operating frequency of the Nokta gives prospectors a better chance of finding tiny gold nuggets, as the 56 kHz frequency will sweep the earth hard. Because it scans the ground at such a high frequency, it slightly lowers the effective detection depth, but this trade-off is with nearly every metal detector on the market today. As mentioned earlier, I prefer a higher operating frequency so that I can better select small gold targets! 

What makes a “best” metal detector for gold? 

There are a variety of factors that affect the performance of a metal detector, especially when you are looking for your own gold metal detector. Among these factors are the environment in which you are prospecting, detector frequency, ground balancing features, and a few other metal detector specifications. Keep reading for an in-depth explanation of how these factors contribute to the effectiveness of your gold detector.

Are There Metals That Metal Detectors Cannot Find?

Metal detectors emit electromagnetic fields to locate metals buried underground. These electromagnetic fields change from time to time as the device listens to waves that come from conductive elements. That said, a metal detector will not detect metals with poor electrical conductivity. Below are metals that a metal detector cannot detect:

1. Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is an alloy of iron and chromium. The chromium content produces a thin film of chromium oxide on the surface of the steel. This layer is known as the passivation layer. The passivation layer prevents the stainless steel from corroding. Additionally, this metal sometimes has other elements, such as silicon, carbon, and manganese.

Moreover, stainless steel is a non-ferrous metal, so it is one of the metals that a metal detector cannot detect. The reason is that it has low electrical conductivity. Additionally, stainless steel has a low magnetic permeability. Meaning it cannot produce enough signal for a metal detector to recognize.

2. Titanium
Titanium is a useful, strong, corrosion-resistant, and lightweight alloy. People utilize it in many products like dental implants and jewelry. Like stainless steel, an ordinary metal detector cannot locate titanium as it has low electrical conductivity.

However, a particular type of metal detector can locate aluminum – the Very Low Frequency (VLF) metal detector. Such a device transmits single-frequency sine waves that are usually at high-pitched frequencies. This way, a VLF metal detector can locate low conductors. Still, you need to optimize the device to a particular setting to find titanium.

3. Ceramic Ferrite Magnets
Ordinary magnets contain either iron or iron combined with copper, cobalt, or neodymium. These metals are highly conductive, making it easy for metal detectors to locate them.

However, ceramic ferrite magnets are ceramic compounds mixed with iron oxide, strontium, nickel, and zinc. There are only low amounts of the said metals found in ceramic ferrite magnets. For this reason, this type of magnet almost has no conductivity. As a result, metal detectors will not be able to detect it.