7/18/16 Report - Earthquake Off Coast of Florida. Poll Results. Metal Detector Field Test Report.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasureeachesreport.blogspot.com.

Source: Associated Press.

No, its not a hurricane, and it is not a tropical storm.  Who would have guessed?  There was an earthquake 104 miles east of Florida on Saturday.

It is not totally unprecedented.  In fact another 3.7 magnitude earthquake was recorded off the coast of St. Augustine in June.

In 1878 an earthquake knocked plaster from walls in St. Augustine.  That one was felt all the way to Tampa.

Here is the link.

https://weather.com/news/news/rare-37-magnitude-earthquake-florida-coast

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The most recent poll has concluded and the results are in.  Conditions have been poor for quite some time, and, as I suspected, the poll shows that very few treasure coins have been found on the beaches recently.  In fact only one person reported finding a treasure coin on the beach up to this date in 2016.

Of course not everybody responded to the poll, so there could well have been more people who found treasure coins this year than is reflected by the poll.  What I conclude from the poll results is that some very low percentage of those that read this poll did find a treasure coin so far this year. From what I've seen and reported, beach detecting conditions have been very poor.  I did miss a lot of time this year due to illness in the family, so I thought there might have been some better times that I missed.

According to the poll results, 2015 was considerably better.  In fact, just going from the poll results, only 1 percent of those that responded to the poll found a treasure coin as late as 2016, while 8% of the respondents found their most recent treasure coin in 2015.

It seems that 2014 was a relatively poor year for finding treasure coins, although the number could actually be as high 9% of the sample.  Those that found coins in 2016 and 2015 could have also found coins in 2014, but that wouldn't show up on the poll because of the way the question was written.   In retrospect, I could have, and probably should have, allowed multiple responses, and then I would have had the additional data.

20% of the sample reported that the last time they found treasure coins was 2013 or earlier.  That could be 2013 or anytime before that.

Only 30% of those who responded to the poll reported that they have ever found a treasure coin on the beach.  To put it the other way, 70% had not found a treasure coin on a beach.  So those of you who have, can count yourself as among the minority.

I've done polls in the past that show that if you found one treasure coin, there is a very good chance that you found more than one. Once you get your first, it seems easier.

Overall, the poll results seem to support my estimates of beach conditions, at least in a general way.

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I ran across a test of the Nokta Fors Relic metal detector by Colonel Dan on the Kellyco web site.

They called it a field test, but the test targets were selected and placed or planted (not sure which from the report) in the field.   It also seemed to me to be more like a test for coin shooters not relic hunters, as iron targets were considered trash.  I'm not sure that is how relic hunters look at the world.

Here is one of the tables found in the report.  You might find it interesting even if you'd never consider a Nokta.  "WSS" indicates wet salt sand.  The two sets of data are for the stock and small 5 inch coil.

Sensitivity at Depth	7x11" Stock		5" Round
Values = inches	WSS	Soil	WSS	Soil
1897 Silver Quarter	7	11	4	7
1877 Silver Dime	7	8	4	6
1883 V Nickel	7	10	3	6
1886 Indian Cent	5	7	4	6
3 Ring CW Bullet	6	10	3	6
Antique Key	6	12	4	7
1853 Large Cent	5	11	5	8
14K Ring	5	10	4	8
10K Ring	3	6	2	6

The first thing you might notice is that depth was significantly reduced in wet salt sand.  The second thing is that the reduction in depth for the smaller coil, which would also be expected, but that might give you some idea of the amount of the reduction.

The small coil was said to provide excellent separation between the trash (key) and good targets.

Click here to go to the field test.


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This week on the Treasure Coast we'll have something like a two or three foot surf.  Nothing much else going on other than the Blue Algae.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

5/18/15 Report - What To Do First When You Have A New Detector. Sunken City Discovered by Divers. A Versatile Camera.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.

Gold Ring Beach Find.

I seldom look at YouTube detecting videos but was bored the other night and had a few minutes to waste.  The first video that I looked at drove me absolutely crazy.

First, the video was made using a detector that had a very annoying signal.  It sounded something like a mosquito or maybe a cheap child's toy meant to drive a parent crazy.  I think detector companies should put more thought into how signals sound.

But the thing that really drove me crazy about the video is that the guy continued to show his meter as it jumped around as he passed the coil over one undug target after another.  It obviously was a very junky area.  I quickly got tired of watching the meter jump around.  I wanted to shout dig the dang thing if you want to see what it is.  He was detecting in a shallow creek that had little soil covering flat bedrock and could have easily exposed most targets in almost no time.

I felt a little better about the fellow when I found out it was the first time that he had used the detector.  I could then understand why he was spending so much time watching the meter, however he would have been much better off doing his first tests in a controlled environment.

If you don't have a clean area of ground you should find an area that you think might be clean, get some test targets and do your first tests there.  And before that you should do some air tests.

I've mentioned before that I wouldn't use an air test to see how deep a detector will detect a particular object in the field.  Detecting in air is different from detecting an object in the ground, but an air test still can be very useful for becoming familiar with a detector, its different settings and different signals.

If you want to learn more about your detector, start in an environment and situation where you can control most factors.  Don't start with a lot of unknowns.

And when you are ready for a field test, start with the simplest situation first and then gradually work into more complex situations.

For example, on a beach, start in the dry sand.  After you've got a handle on that, move to wet sand, and after that, maybe move into shallow water.  Go from simple to more complex.

As you've probably noticed, I do a lot of experimentation with detectors and objects.  I don't put much stock in what other people say.  I rather test something out and prove it for myself.  I guess that is just the kind of person I am.  I spent a lot of my professional career doing research and conducting experiments.

I've found some commonly accepted knowledge about metal detecting to be wrong.  I recently tested a detector coil that was supposed to provide excellent target separation.  It didn't.  You can't always go by the theory of things or what you hear or read.

I highly recommend doing a lot of air tests and tests in a test garden, as well as field tests with any detector, especially when you get a new detector.

The fellow that made the video I was talking about would have been much farther ahead if he had done  his first tests in a test garden rather than a junky creek.  I understand the temptation to run out and and see what you can find with a brand new detector, but for me I'd rather have some idea of how it works and what to expect before I take a new detector out for a field test.  If you just can't hold your britches, at least pick a fairly simple environment like a dry sand beach for your first tests, preferably one that has been pretty much picked clean.

Another thing I want to say is, Dig it! If you want to know what is causing a signal, put it in your hand, hold it and look at it.  When you really know how to use your detector and what it is saying to you without spending five minutes studying at a meter, then you can strategically pass over targets, but until you reach that point you'll learn a lot more by digging.  You'll also avoid some big mistakes.

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Divers discovered the ancient city of Heracleion while searching for Napoleon's ships.  Use this link to read the article and view the video of divers exploring huge stone monuments and statues.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2336723/Ancient-Egyptian-city-lost-1-200-years-begins-reveal-secrets.html

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I completed testing of one of the newer detectors and expect to have that written up before long.

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As you know I often post various kind of photos in this blog.  I often post pictures of the beach and various finds.  I also once talked about how it is a good idea to take photos of finds for your personal detecting records.  Not only will that help you remember your finds, but photos might also be necessary for insurance purposes.

There is one camera that I've found to be especially reliable and effective in most situations.   It is my Sony Handycam.

You've seen beach pictures that I've taken with that camera.  It also did the best job of taking pictures of flourescent fossil shells under black light.  That wasn't easy, but the Handycam did the job better than any other camera I have.

It has a still photo button, but I more often take a video and then select clips from the video.

Here is a photo that shows the camera's versatility.

Dragon Fly Photo Taken With The Sony Handycam.

Getting this photo could be a challenge with any camera but was easily accomplished with the Handycam.

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On the Treasure Coast we have some very nice weather.  The surf is still around two feet, but we have been having some nice low tides.

No change is expected this week.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

7/25/14 How Not To Miss Gold: Detector Mode Test Results. Saga of the Central America.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.BlogSpot.com.


Sample Gold Items For Detector Test

There is no detector that can identify any and every type of relic, watch, ring, or whatever with 100% accuracy. I am certain that you will miss some very good things if you simply pass over items because of how they display on an ID screen or because of the audio tone. You have to make a calculated decision concerning how much of what you are willing to miss. 

It is relatively easy for a detector to correctly identify modern US coins.  They can do that well, but the question is, is that what you really most want to find.

Not very long ago I talked about making those decisions in my post on Math for Metal Detecting.  I pointed out how a single good find can be worth more than hundreds or even thousands of coins.

Whatever your decision making process, there is little that is more important than actually knowing your detector, especially how it reacts to high value targets such as gold.   And there is no better way of getting to know your detector than working with known test targets.  It doesn't matter if you are hunting cobs or modern gold, you absolutely need to know how your detector responds to the items that you really want to find.

I did a field test of the ACE 250 not long ago.  It is a low-cost discriminating detector, that in my opinion is a very good detector for the price.  I used it for the following test.  I wanted to see how well it identified various samples of gold jewelry.   For me, these types of tests are mandatory for any detector that you want to use.

I got a sample of gold items that varied in size and weight for the test.  They are pictured above.  I labeled them 1 - 5 going from left to right in the picture.

The first thin ring weighs .04 troy oz.   The second weighs .09 troy oz.  The second is smaller but wider than the first.  The third weighs .23 troy oz., and the forth, .27.   The fifth is a bracelet weighting .67 oz.

The ACE 250 has five hunting modes;  coin, relic, custom, jewelry and all metals.  I tested the Coin and Jewelry modes first.

I put the targets on ground that I have used many times in the past (so I know it is clean) for such tests and ran my coil over the test targets.

In Coin mode the small rings labeled 1 and 2 were identified as nickels.  Fine!  You might think you are digging a nickel and be surprised to find a small gold ring.  No big problem.

Still in Coin mode, items 3 and 4, were not detected at all.  By that I mean there was no audio tone.  

I ask you, would you rather detect a clad coin or the average size gold ring?   If you don't want to dig anything but coins, that is fine, but realize what you might be giving up.

Still in Coin mode, the bracelet (item 5) was identified as a nickel.   Hope you are digging nickels if you go over a bracelet like that.

In Coin mode, you will dig smaller gold items that display as nickels.  You will, however, miss larger gold that falls in the pulltab range.

In Jewelry mode item 1 jumped back and forth between nickel and foil on the ID display screen.  Item 2 was identified as a nickel again.   Items 3 and 4 were identified as pull tabs.  And item 5 was identified as a nickel again.

If you want to find gold in Jewelry mode, you should be digging nickels, foil and pull tabs. 

This test was done using one particular detector.  Results with other detectors can vary, but these test results should show you how important it is to know your detector.

To summarize, if you were using either the Coin mode or Jewelry mode, you very well might have missed items 3 and 4.   That is two out of five gold items.   And they are pretty typical rings, which makes it even more important.

In Coin mode, you would not have detected them, and in Jewelry mode you would have misidentified them.

A lot of guys use Jewelry mode rather than Coin mode when hunting and say they find more coins in the Jewelry mode.  The Jewelry mode does not discriminate (eliminate the audio tone) for as many non-coin items. 

In this test it should be noted that I'm using a best-case scenario.  Items were on the surface and not near other items or junk which could have added additional mistakes.  Also deep items in the field may not be identified exactly the same as shallow items.

As I explained when I talked about Step Searches, I would not exclusively use a single mode on a promising area, but would switch modes and also detectors and cover the same ground multiple times.   What one detector or search mode misses another might not miss.  That is one big reason for going back over the area after having analyzed the area and likely targets.

This inexpensive detector has already found good numbers of coins missed in areas heavily hunted by much more expensive and powerful detectors.  Each different type of detector has its own specific strengths and weaknesses.  That is another good reason for searching the same area multiple times with different detectors.

Some detectors are very sensitive to electric lines and underground cables, for example.  Some are good at target separation.  There are different things that will allow one detector to find what another, even another more powerful detector, will not find.

I found this test enlightening and hope you did too.

I'll cover the Relic and All Metals modes tomorrow.



The site of the Central America had not been worked since 1991 until a court-appointed receiver awarded a contract to Odyssey Marine Exploration to salvage what remains on the Central America with the hope of obtaining more treasure and paying back investors.  Odyssey Marine has since recovered 43 solid gold bars, 1,300 $20 double eagle gold coins, and thousands more gold and silver coins.

Here is the link to that interesting story.

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/ea11e3bb7d9f45c9b6abb503cb9a42b3/US--Treasure-Dispute


On the Treasure Coast we're still stuck with a South wind and East swell and only a one foot surf.  That has been the pattern for a long time now.  Still watching for a change.


I think this was a very useful post.  I hope you think so too.   It explains in an empirical way much of what I talk about.  More tomorrow.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@Comcast.net