Gold is a metal, so a Metal Detector is capable of finding gold, and vice-versa, a Gold Detector is also capable of detecting various metals.

Metal Detectors are primarily used by hobbyists who are looking to find a wide range of metals including, relics, artefact, coins, jewellery including silver and gold.

A detector labelled “Gold Detector” is usually designed and tuned in specifically to find gold.

A normal Metal Detector can be used to find gold rings, jewellery and coins which are considered large compared to finding natural gold such as small gold nuggets and gold flakes as you would when prospecting for gold. For the latter, you would need a true Gold Detector.

Compared to other metals, gold has low conductive properties which means a detector that operates at a higher frequency will perform better. True Gold Detectors will operate at much higher frequencies, typically between 45kHZ – 61kHZ whereas hobby Metal Detectors usually operate at lower frequencies between 6.5kHZ – 14kHZ.

THE LIST BELOW SHOWS VARIOUS POPULAR DETECTORS AND THEIR FREQUENCIES (RELEVANT AS AT 2019/2020)

 

GOLD DETECTORS | FREQUENCIES

Nokta Makro Gold Kruzer | 61 kHz

Nokta Makro AU Gold Finder | 56 kHz

Nokta Makro Gold Racer | 56 kHz

Minelab Gold Monster 1000 | 45 kHz

METAL DETECTORS | FREQUENCIES

Minelab Equinox Series | Multi: 5, 10, 15, 20, 40 kHz

Minelab Vanquish Series | Multi: 5, 10, 15, 20, 40 kHz

Garrett AT Max | 13.6 kHz

Nokta Makro Simplex+ | 12 kHz

Garrett ACE 400i | 10 kHz

Garrett ACE 300i | 8 kHz

Garrett ACE 200i | 6.5 kHz

MINELAB GPX AND GPZ SERIES GOLD DETECTOR

Minelab have top of the range specialist Gold Detectors such as the Minelab GPX 5000 and Minelab GPZ 7000 that utilise their Zero Voltage Technology (ZVT). ZVT is not quite the same as the above frequency detectors but emits pulses with two voltage levels that work in combination with differently timed pulses to increase the amount of power transmitted into the ground. This technology makes these detectors very effective at finding gold, but they do come at premium price-point as you would expect from such an advanced Gold Detector.