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Metal Detectors

The technology and capabilities of metal detectors today are much more advanced than the older generation simple one-coil BFO styles. The newest metal detectors are more sophisticated, weigh less, have more efficient battery power, discriminate better, and detect metal at deeper depths than ever before. Metal detector manufacturers have been able to apply the technological advances of electronics and computers to improve the capabilities of modern metal detectors. The top of the line models use microchip technology and are fully computerized , with features and controls that allows the user to set sensitivity, discrimination, track speed, threshold volume, and notch filters as well as storing this information in memory for future reference. The result of all these improvements is an increased potential for finding the treasures you are seeking.

Finding Items With Metal Detectors

Metal detectors are electronic devices that are used to locate all types of metallic items - gold, silver, copper, nickel, iron, brass, tin, lead, bronze, and aluminum. The metals they detect might be discarded aluminum cans or lost money and jewelry. Metal detectors will not locate non-metal objects - diamonds, pearls, gemstones, paper, bone, or stone items. The metal detector signal can find items in a variety of soils and terrains, sand, wood, and other non-metallic environments. If you want to search for treasures underwater, there are waterproof metal detectors for just that purpose.

When you are searching for items with a metal detector, you can end up digging up a lot of unwanted items, such as rusty nails and old bottlecaps. One of the useful advances in metal detectors is the concept of discrimination. Discrimination is the ability to distinguish between different types of metals, which can be set to ignore unwanted metals.

Metal Detector Activities

Hobbyists with a variety of interests use metal detectors to enjoy all types of activities - coin hunting, relic hunting, gold prospecting, and treasure hunting. Some metal detector hobbyists enjoy searching the beaches, parks, or other public places to see what treasures they can find, whether it's lost money, jewelry, or other unexpected items. Some people are interested in searching for specific items, such as old coins, Civil War artifacts, other items of historical significance, or gold nuggets. Other treasure hunters enjoy researching stories of buried treasures and searching for these hidden bounties. There are also treasure hunters that search for treasures underwater and items lost at sea.

There are also many local and national clubs centered around metal detecting. Metal detector hobbyists can join these clubs to get together with individuals who have similar interests, to share tips and tricks for treasure hunting and to participate in organized treasure hunts or other member outings.

Metal Detector Technology

Metal Detectors using VLF (Very Low Frequency) technology is the most versatile and most popular type of system. VLF detectors are very effective at locating a wide range of metallic items and can be used in a variety of terrains. PI (Pulse Induction) metal detectors are usually used for more specialized types of searching - prospecting for gold nuggets and deep-sea treasure hunting. Gold prospectors often use PI detectors because of their deeper-searching capabilities. Scuba divers and beachcombers often choose PI detectors because they are more effective in environments where wet salts can cause electromagnetic interference. Industrial sized PI pulse units are used by deep-sea treasure hunters.