1/2/2019 - New Year - New Finds. Catapult Stone. Inscribed Stone. Gold Ring with Gem Stones. Flat Surf.

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

Finds by Tony Smith with Quarter for Comparison.

The top left item appears to be a drill bit.  Two iron flakes on the right, and a shark tooth on the left.

Tony found these on a 1715 wreck beach and was asking about the item that appears to be a drill bit and the age of it.  I have no idea of the age.

Here is a closer look at the drill bit and shark tooth.

Finds by Tony S.

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I watched a new Curse TV show.  This one was Curse of Civil War Gold.  I hadn't seen it before, but don't know how long it has been out there or if it is new.

Anyhow, it is on the History channel and apparently done by the same producers.  Too bad.  It is done the same way as the other curse program -  same worn out war room discussions with lots of hyperbolic "Could it be..."  narrative.  It even sounds like the same narrator.

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Experts believe they have found a carved stone which would have been fired from a giant catapult during the pivotal siege in 1296. It led to Edward I seizing control of the medieval fortress, plundering its treasures and shipping them to London, and the castle being held under English rule for 18 years. 

Archaeologists made the discovery at the site of the proposed new Virgin Hotel, which is earmarked for a large swathe of Edinburgh’s Old Town...

Here is that link.

https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/catapult-ball-fired-at-edinburgh-castle-in-13th-century-siege-discovered-in-hotel-site-dig-1-4849752

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An ancient stone tablet bearing a historic inscription of the Resolution of Nikouria, dating back to the 3rd century BC, has resurfaced on the island of Amorgos after it had gone missing for roughly a century, Greece’s Ministry of Culture announced on Friday.

According to the ministry, the inscription was a key document about the history of the Aegean and was first discovered in 1893 in the Panagia Church on the islet of Nikouria, opposite Aigiali on Amorgos.

The priceless artifact had been temporarily transferred to a nearby stable where it remained until 1908, but then disappeared from view and its fate was entirely unknown...

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/12/30/missing-ancient-artifact-stone-of-nikouria-rediscovered-on-amorgos/

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New Year Ring Find.

New year, new finds.  This is a nice one.  14K gold, diamonds and probably garnet.

Same Ring.

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The tides are moderate and the surf will be only about a foot for a few days.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

3/13/18 Report - Two Simple Inexpensive Techniques To Help Determine the Nature of a Find.

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

Small Raw Unpolished Gem Stones As Found.

One of my favorite diagnostic tools is a black or ultraviolet light like the inexpensive ones used for black light posters.  A black light can help you find or identify some gem stones.  Above are a few small gem stones that I found a number of years ago.

The round one that looks like a ball at the top actually has many flat sides something like a geodesic dome.  I believe it is a pyrope garnet.

The six sided red one to the left of that is a ruby.  There are other rubies or pieces of ruby in the group.

The above photo shows what they look like in normal daylight.  Below is what they look like under black light.

Same Gem Stones Under Black Light.

 Unfortunately I wasn't able to keep them in the same position while holding them and taking the photo.  The rubies fluoresce under ultraviolet light.  The pyrope garnet does not  You can see a touch of the red fluorescence on the big piece on the far right.

You can easily find tables that tell which gem stones show fluorescence.  This is one easy way to test to see if the red stone in your ring might be a ruby.  Using a black light will also help you see rubies in dirt or matrix.

It actually gets more complex.  Jewelers use both shortwave and longewave ultraviolet lights for diagnostic purposes.  Some gems respond differently to each.

I've talked about other finds that fluoresce in the past, including vaseline glass, depression glass, and my favorite; a nice piece of red sea glass that was treated with uranium.  I believe it came from an old buoy. Only one side of the sea glass was treated and glowed.  The sea glass is shown below as photographed in daylight and then in ultraviolet light.

One Side Of Piece of Sea Glass Treated With Uranium To Glow.

Another very simple diagnostic tool is a simple magnet.  I often receive photos of iron flakes that look something like cobs.  You can test those with a magnet.  If the object sticks to a magnet, it isn't a cob.  In fact it isn't silver or gold or any other kind of nonmagnetic material.

A couple days ago I posted a little video using the Ace 250 to detect three one-cent coins.  Two of those coins stuck to a magnet.  The magnetic coins were the Euro cent, which was copper coated steel, and the U. S. steel penny.

Three Coins Sticking To A Refrigerator Magnet.

The photo above shows the U. S. steel cent, the Euro and one other unidentifiable corroded coin sticking to a small refrigerator magnet.  The copper coating does not prevent the Euro coin from sticking to the magnet.  Many foreign coins will stick, but few U. S. coins.

If you are wondering what metal a find might be made of, a simple magnet can quickly help you narrow it down.

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Tuesday we'll have mostly a north wind.  The primary swell will be from the north, but the surf is only two or three feet.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

3/3/15 Report - Two BIG gold Metal Detector Finds! The Will To Discover!

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



87 Oz. Gold Nugget Found Using Minelab Gold Detector.

I received these first two photos and the information about the gold nugget find via email from Nicole D. of VineSprout Public Relations.  The nugget was found using a Minelab gold detector.



Michael Brown
Finder of the 87 Oz. Nugget

Here is what Nicole said.   I'd like to share some exciting news with you. Australian gold prospector Michael Brown has uncovered an astonishing 87-ounce solid gold nugget during a prospecting expedition in Inglewood. gold prospector Michael Brown has uncovered an astonishing 87-ounce solid gold nugget during a prospecting expedition in Inglewood. Discovered in six inches of ground with a state-of-the-art Minelab detector, Brown’s find is estimated to be worth over $130,000 AUD. Please find the press release and images attached. Let me know if you would like more information...   




That is one huge nugget.

If you could do it, and you can't, it would be an interesting experiment to go back and see what the cheapest detector would be that would detect the same nugget under the same circumstances.   Of course you shouldn't hold your breathe while waiting to find another nugget like that.

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7th Century Gold and Garnet Pendant
Source of photo: see link.

Here is the second big find.  It was discovered in a field along with other items.  It is thought to be among the most spectacular artifacts ever found in the region.

It is made of gold, which has cells that are inlaid with garnet.

Click here for more photos and more of the story.

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I received an email from Kenneth H. about the carved gorget  that I posted yesterday.  Here is what Ken said.

Hello TG dropped a line to state the image on the photo is not half fish/half cat. Must consider geography and natural wildlife where such artifacts are found. That image you posted, most likely, is a beaver (although the head appears to be more like a wild hog). The tail is a bit small in proportion though. I back that up with 30 plus years experience in archaeology. More importantly, I always enjoy this blog and your untiring efforts to maintain it. Your contribution to Florida Archaeology, Florida History and Florida Treasure Hunting is appreciated by many. -- Yes! I dare to combine all three together because all are fueled by the same drive. That is, since the Paleo era, man was born with the will to discover. No pen strike in a book of laws can ever change it...

Thanks Ken! The kind words are especially appreciated coming from someone who has done so much in the field of archaeology.  And thanks for highlighting the basic unifying drive behind all of this.

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It looks like we are stuck with something like a 3 - 5 foot surf and predominant East winds for several days.

Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net