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Date Posted: 02:02:38 10/24/02 Thu
Author: jim straight
Subject: Re: MINELAB XT 18000
In reply to: Plumber 's message, "Re: MINELAB XT 18000" on 22:51:15 10/23/02 Wed

Plumber; I absolutely agree with you. The LST has treated me well. I have learned how to get the best out of it and can swiftly flip both toggle switches and find the information gleaned from using the combination of modes very informative. Taking time to learn one machine is critical to success. I chose to learn the LST because of its simplicity. (I bet most do not understand the Disc mode in the LST! This is an example of taking time to learn any machine.)

Regarding the 18000; I have recently played with one and I am impressed! I have been using the 17000 for years. I'm sure that for those that have used the 17000 are aware of it's ability to handle alkali where "other" detectors tend to flounder.

Several months ago I was in an area on the western side of the Humboldt range in western Nevada. My 17000 in 32kHz using the 6-inch circular "DD" gave a good signal with a Jefferson nickel buried about 11-inches; my buddy with a different machine using a good 10-inch DD was able to get 7-inches.

Then we went elsewhere and tried different machines; such as various "pulses." With my "pulse" I was able to cover a large amount of ground with one sweep of the coil. Others were using VLF-type with smaller coils as the ground was a fresh scraping in alkali. I hit a 104 grain nugget (about 6.7 grams) The others were finding the dinks with their Vlf-types which were beyond the sensitivity of my "pulse."

Covering a lot of ground while out "hit & miss propecting" is essentual. Once that first nugget is found than start gridding as you now "mining." There can be quite a few in the same area.

Go over the area in different directions; try using different coils and different detectors; here is where 3 or 4 "buddies" can share in cleaning out an area. I know of one area where about 3.5 pounds of "speci" and gold nuggets were found in an area about about 140x10 ft. The claim owner was delighted and happy with his 10%. We--- five of us--- found the here-to-fore-overlooked hardrock vein; it was in Triassic Volcanics. It was later cleaned out by the claim-owner by "digging down" using equipment.

Incidentally, my prospecting buddy, Jerry, is now a believer in his pulse--- now that he has seen it's capabilities. With his pulse he has found a larger nugget out on a pediment.

Mineralization is very "iffy." Each machine is different and reacts differently to the various combinations of alkali, magnetic black sand, hematite, and iron-rich clay.

Plumber, you mention the old Gold Bug. Yep, in some areas it is hard to beat. I have a very early production model with the double strand of wire. Fisher may have goofed by not updating it with a preset disc mode such as found on the 1212, 1225, etc., coin detectors.

I'm not trashing the capabilities of any detector. They all have strong points which the detectorist can make work to advantage. Whatever you chose, make it work for you. As an example, since I have mentioned specific machines I will mention more "0ldies but Goodies;" the White's Goldmaster II can be effective in finding a shallow overlooked paystreak of sub-grain flakes for drywashing. The Garrett Scorpion handles some contact metamorpic mineralized better than others.

In searching for eluvial placers: alkali, gossans, laterites; and the effect of weathering, both chemical and physical, all require special needs. I can go to a certain area where even a PI-type is pressed to perform.

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