Are you looking for a gold detector? There are a couple of things that you will need to consider in order to buy the ideal gold detector for your budget and needs.  As one of Africa’s leading suppliers of Gold Detectors, we share some top things that you will need to know before investing in a gold detector for prospecting in Zambia and Zimbabwe were small scale mining is currently legal, if you are in South Africa, please note that small scale mining in South Africa is still illegal.

There is a common misconception that only certain metal detectors can detect gold. This essentially isn’t correct. Gold is simply another sort of metal, so all metal detectors can discover it… in the correct conditions. 

All in all, for what reason wouldn’t you be able to utilize any detector instead of paying extra for one that is intended for gold? 

The explanation is that gold is harder to detect than a coin or relic. 

In the first place, gold nuggets are almost always small, which makes detecting them difficult. You’ll generally be looking for gold nuggets that weigh about 1 gram or less, instead of moderately huge nuggets. 

Most gold nuggets are found in highly mineralized soil. VLF detectors battle with these conditions, as the mineralization and high iron levels, causes substantial interference and false signals. 

Without a detector that is intended to deal with these conditions, you won’t have the opportunity to reliably detect gold nuggets. The average metal detector simply isn’t capable. 

Thus, considering that, we should investigate the necessary requirements you need to take into consideration when purchasing a gold metal detector. 

Sort of Detector 

There are two types of metal detectors generally utilized for gold prospecting: high-frequency VLF and Pulse Induction. 

Both have their strengths and weaknesses, so there’s not a “best” choice for all search conditions. Here’s a short breakdown of each type. 

High-Frequency VLF Detectors 

Very Low Frequency (VLF) detectors that are intended to detect gold have a higher search frequency than those used for detecting coins and relics. While the normal VLF detector has a search frequency of between 5-15kHz, those intended for gold are usually in the 15-81kHz search frequency range. 

Why the distinction in Frequency? 

The higher the search frequency, the better a VLF detector is at detecting small gold nuggets. This comes at the expense of depth, however, as lower frequency detectors “see” further into the ground. 

An advantage of a VLF machine is electronic discrimination. This permits you to cancel out regular trash target signals, for example, those made from steel and iron. VLF detectors are also less expensive than Pulse Induction models. 

A drawback is that VLF detectors are more sensitive to high levels of ground mineralization, which can cause continuous false signals. The best metal detectors for gold are great at sifting through false signals from mineralization, however, they are not at a level where this is perfect yet. 

The XP ORX is the Rolls Royce of VLF metal detectors as, it has 21 frequencies ranging from 13kHz to 81kHz, which means you can set your detector to target the deeper bigger nuggets at lower frequencies as well as the finest of the fine gold nuggets at its high-frequency level settings.  It is also effective at iron discrimination, settable reactivity gives you the ability to speed up reactivity, which will allow you to easily distinguish between real and trash items in very trashy areas. 

Pulse Induction Detectors 

Pulse Induction metal detectors are more expensive than VLF detectors, yet they are better at ignoring mineralization. This makes them a better option for areas with extreme levels of ground mineralization. Pulse Induction machines can generally find bigger gold nuggets that are usually found deeper. 

There are a few downsides to PI metal detectors, however. Besides the value, pulse induction metal detectors can’t separate trash items like steal and iron. They are additionally less effective at finding smaller gold nuggets when compared to high-frequency VLF machines. 

If you are looking for a great value for money Pulse Induction Gold Detector, go have a look at the Garrett ATX Gold & Metal Detector and order online now.

Which One Should You Choose? 

I wish I could tell you that either high-frequency VLF or pulse induction detectors were “ideal” in all situations, yet this would simply not be true. 

In all actuality, there is no correct alternative for all conditions. All things being equal, you need to pick the most ideal option for your intended use and search conditions. 

For chasing regions with moderately low mineralization, you’ll have the option to discover bigger gold nuggets with consistency while using a high-frequency VLF detector. Obviously, if you’re searching for bigger gold nuggets that are usually found deeper in the ground, a lower frequency may be better. 

Then again, in case you’re scanning in the ground with significant levels of mineralization, a pulse induction machine is probably going to perform better. These models are superior at ignoring mineralization and zeroing in on genuine targets. While you can use a VLF detector in these conditions, you’ll need to manage a lot more false signals, but you should be able to remove the false signals with clever notch discrimination. 

It’s likewise imperative to consider how much trash is in your objective territory. On the off chance that there are loads of trashy items, a VLF detector is presumably the better decision as they can notch discriminate out undesirable signals. PI detectors aren’t capable of this. 

In the event that this all sounds a bit confusing, I don’t blame you! There’s a ton to take into consideration. Here’s a quick rundown: 

Pick a high-frequency VLF detector if you can’t bear the cost of a PI model, need greater adaptability from your detector, will be searching in trashy areas, or are zeroing in on little gold nuggets at moderately shallow depths. 

Pick a pulse induction detector in case you will be searching in exceptionally mineralized soils, won’t have to manage a lot of trashy items, have a bigger spending plan, and just intend on using the detector for gold prospecting. 

Are you looking for a gold detector? Have a look at our gold detectors for sale and order online now for the best service and prices in South Africa.