8/19/17 Report - New Video To Show How To Identify Target Shape From Audio Signal Alone. Tropical Activity and Predictions.

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

Source: nhc.noaa.gov

Harvey is going to cut across the Yucatan and then back out into the Gulf again.

L92, which is the next one to the east of Harvey is headed towards us.  The question is how strong it will be.  It did not strengthen last night.  It has a ways to go yet though.

Right now the surf is only one to two feet on the Treasure Coast.  Nothing big is predicted at this point.

The tides are pretty big.  There are some nice negative tides.

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ATX Coil Over Broken Iron Shipwreck Spke.
Source: See link to video below.

I've talked a lot about how much you can tell about a buried target from the audio signal alone even if you are using an All Metals or Pinpoint mode.  The audio signal will tell you a lot about the target's shape, size and depth if you really understand your detector.

I made a video that demonstrates how you can tell something of the shape of a buried object from the audio signal alone.  In the video I used a quarter (just for comparison), along with a fairly large bolt, smaller screw, piece of an iron shipwreck spike, and an odd shaped piece of metal that responds a little bit like a fish hook.  I usually can identify fish hooks by the sound of the signal.

I used a Garrett ATX, although you would get the same type of results with many other metal detectors.  I used this same technique to identify target shapes before I ever got the ATX.  It worked exactly the same when using an Excalibur, for example.

I put the items on a board so you could see them well.  I also cut the sensitivity of the Garrett ATX down to less than half, just to temper down the signal, and used Motion mode, although the results would be similar using the Non-motion mode.

When you run your coil over a long straight object you will get a different type of signal depending upon the direction you move the coil.  You'll see that clearly in the video.

When you move the coil over the long object from one end to another, you'll get a double signal.  One towards each end of the object.  And if you move the coil over the object at 90 degrees to that, the signal will sound very much like a coin-shaped object.  So if you swing in one direction and get a regular signal and then change the direction of your sweep 90 degrees, you'll get something like a double signal.  You can also get an idea of the length of the object something by the amount of time between the double blips.  There will be more time between the blips when the object is longer.

Here is the link to the video.  There is really a lot of good useful information in this video if you really study the objects and signals they produce.  If you don't want to dig nails, you don't need a target ID meter on your detector.

https://youtu.be/Mu7sbkrLC1k

If you move the coil too fast, you might not always catch the double blip.  You can gather additional information by varying how fast you move the coil too.

All of this is does not have to take extra time.  You can do it while pinpointing.

If you dig all targets, you don't have to do it at all, but if you are at a site littered with nails or other long narrow objects, you might want to be more selective.  This is a type of target ID that does not require a ID meter or any particular metal detector mode or function.

Notice that on the last object, there is a break.  I don't know what to call that thing right off, but you get what I'm calling a double blip when you sweep the coil in both directions.  The latch on the object is open.  You get the double blip in both directions, instead of just one direction like you would get with a bolt or nail or other long thin object.

My main point is that if you learn to analyze your signals, you can get a lot of information from just listening to the audio signal.  I always say that the human brain is a better processor than the detector's circuitry.  You can also learn to get a good idea of the targets depth and size from just the audio signal.


Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

2/16/17 Report - How The Position of Targets Can Affect Metal Detector Signals. Mexican Tomb Figurines. Golf Eggs. Unwanted Meeting With Solenopsis.

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

Source: Live Science link below.

1,700-year-old untouched tomb bearing the bones of a dozen male adults, as well as pre-Columbian figurines and statues, has been unearthed in Mexico.

Here is the link.

http://www.livescience.com/57844-mexican-tomb-uncovered.html

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Here are a couple of finds: two golf balls covered with barnacles and shells. People hit golf balls into the water.  

Couple Barnacle and Shell Encrusted Golf Balls

On the lighter side, that reminds me of two TV shows.  Jethro from the Beverly Hillbillies called them golf eggs, and Cramer, on Seinfeld, once hit a golf ball that got stuck in a whales blow hole.

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One thing I don't think a lot of people do enough is experiment with their detector on known targets. I once did a quick little video showing how a detector responds to a screw, copper tag, and small gold ring, when the tag and ring were flat on the ground and when they were standing on edge.

Do you know how the signal will change when thin gold ring is on edge?   If not, you might want to take a look at the video.  The same thing can happen when a coin is on edge rather than laying flat.

Here is the link.

[  I had the wrong link here earlier and replaced it.  I hope the one below is the right one. ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L96xy9nRZo

Of course not all detectors will respond exactly the same but most will respond similarly.  You'll get about the same result from an Excalibur if it is in pinpoint mode, for example.

Long thin targets such as nails produce a double beep when you sweep the coil over the target from end to end, but a single beep when you move the coil at a ninety degree angle to that.  You can get the same kind of thing when a coin or ring is standing on edge.  One direction will produce a double beep.

Of course different settings can change how the detector responds.

Coins and rings and similar things usually lay flat, but not always.  If there are rocks, shells, roots, the targets can be on edge.  Also sometimes they'll slide down and rest stuck to the side of a hole.
That, along with the decreased depth, can make the signal disappear.

I always recommend a experimenting a lot with different types of targets in order to really get to know your detector and how it responds to different targets.

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I received more emails concerning Dr. Gunnar Thompson and his article about Pre-Columbian maps.  It seems there are people with very strong opinions on both sides.  From the emails I've received, it looks like the controversy has a life of its own and could continue indefinitely.  I personally have not looked into the controversy that deeply, so I'll leave it up to you to decide for yourself.   I very much appreciate the comments but won't be continuing the topic in this blog. There are other forums that do that. Thanks again for all the informative emails and comments.  I learned from them, and they are appreciated.


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I first met Solenopsis two or three decades ago in Davie Florida.  It was a hot day and I was metal detecting an old home site near a canal and orange groves.  I was on my hands and knees digging a target and realized I was in an ant hill and being stung by ants.

Solenopsis is a genus of stinging ant.  You might know them as fire ants.  Snow birds might not be familiar with the little devils.  I wasn't when I first got stung.

They hit me again yesterday.  This time I wasn't detecting.  I was cutting some weeds, and as I often am, I was bare foot.  You'd think I'd know better.  Anyhow, I got a lots of bites and a swollen foot, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been.  Since I don't wear shoes most of the time, I think I've built up some immunity to their poison.  Still, they are a pain, and if you are from up north and don't know about them, be careful.

There are some suggested treatments.  Applying meat tenderizer is one.  That treatment is also recommended for stings from Portuguese Man-O-War.  Life guards at swimming beaches used to use alcohol.  I know first hand about those too.

Other treatments include applying ice to prevent swelling, application of ammonia, Clorox or alcohol.  I don't know how much those work, but I used ice and Clorox and came through pretty well.

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Evidently a cool front moved through.  The surf is still small and will remain small for at least a few more days.  The tides are moderating.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

11/10/16 Report - Mystery Find. Story of Returned Ring. November 11 Educational Talks in Orlando.

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

Mystery Object

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Here is a cool YouTube video showing the finding of a ring then cleaning, researching and eventually the return of the ring.

Here is the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir8mpWb0CB8&feature=youtu.be

Thanks to Bernie C. for pointing me to this video.

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I did a little land hunting today.  I don't do that often, but I always like to when I have an interesting place to look.  Not much success, but did find the mystery object shown above.  Maybe someone can tell me what it is.

Obviously I didn't get it cleaned yet.  It looks something like a wrench on one end but is bent up on the other end like it was coat hook or something.

It was found in an area that has been used continuously for hundreds of years.

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Here is the schedule and description of the educational talka that will be held in Orlando before the Sedwick Coins floor auction.

Friday November 11th

Martin Woodward (Isle of Wight, U.K.)
2:00PM "Treasures from the Deep: Significant Shipwreck Finds from the Isle of Wight and U.K."

Martin Woodward has been a professional diver since 1968, and is still actively diving in the UK and other locations worldwide. He was also involved with the RNLI for a total of 38 years, retiring as Coxswain of the Bembridge, Isle of Wight, lifeboat on reaching the age limit. Martin’s diving career includes “deep saturation” diving in the North Sea, oilfields in the Persian Gulf and many other locations worldwide. It has covered all aspects of commercial diving, including multiple shipwreck and salvage projects.
Isaac Rudman (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)
3:30PM "La Vida de un Coleccionista Profesional" (in Spanish)

Isaac Rudman, originally from Cuba, splits his time between Santo Domingo and Miami, and made his money importing and manufacturing home appliances. He collects Latin American art, rare coins, and pre-Columbian artifacts, among other things. He has been a collector for over 40 years and has vast experience in collecting from all over the world. From a button to a sculpture or the rarest of Mexican coins--he has seen it all.Paul Karon (Florida, U.S.A.)
4:30PM "Strategies for Purchasing Potosi Cobs"

Paul Karon lived for over 38 years in San Juan, Puerto Rico, before moving to Florida in 1994 with his family. Paul was a very successful commercial printer with 40 years of experience; his massive operation had dozens of presses and he had hundreds of employees. In addition to printing he has been always devoted to collecting cobs, especially from Potosi, forming one of the most important collections ever offered in the 1990s along the lines of the Sellschopp accumulation. Paul became a full-time dealer specializing in cobs and went from being a collector to a curator of some other important collections. Today Paul visits the most important shows around the country and still consults clients and works as a dealer.
Dave Horner (Florida, U.S.A.)
5:45PM "Compilation of Treasure Recovery Stories 1970-1990"

Dave Horner has lived a life of adventure. From his early days in the Navy to a successful business career, he has studied subjects that interest him with a dogged determination. While living in Virginia Beach, Virginia, he founded one of the first professional dive shops in the mid-Atlantic region and pioneered sport diving for treasure through charter trips to sunken ships. He is a member of the Explorers Club and has sailed his custom schooner to interesting islands and reefs around the world. Dave is the author of several books, mostly about sunken ships, including The Treasure Galleons and Shipwreck (about the 1654 Capitana).Friday November 11th Pre-Auction Dinner at 7:30 PM

- Saturday auction starts at 9:00 AM EST *all day.

- Sunday auction starts at 9:00 AM EST morning only.

- Monday Internet Only session, from 1PM (for about 4-5 hours)

Thats all for today.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net