I found the perfect addition to Ted SCOTT’s Nugget Hunting Blog…

Check out this video of bedrock sniping for gold nuggets.

Yes, there is placer gold in Scottland!

Just a friendly reminder to all who would venture into the deserts in search of placer gold. Although it is early, the snakes are out and I’ve even heard tale of a bite here in AZ. Traditionally the snakes come out hungry and probably a bit pissed off. Just be careful, keep your eyes and ears open and be sure to wear some snake chaps.

Photo by Clinton & Charles Robertson

Don’t forget to read our article on Desert Safety.

****Attention****

GPX4500 Recall 

Well, like most people, I’ve been following the developments regarding Minelab’s as yet unreleased detector, the GPX 4500. Today I noticed that someone got ahold of an official press release sort of advertisement put out by Minelab although there is still no talk of the new machine on their website.

Minelab always makes some interesting statement in their advertising. You’ll remember a few months ago they stated in a GPAA magazine advertisement that the SD2100 was “The Best”. The layout and nomenclature made it clear that they were indeed referring to the SD series detectors. A strong statement about a machine that has been around for quite a long time. So, if you want to use “the best”, go ahead and get an SD2100. But, if you want to be an Expert in a matter of moments, read on…

Supposedly the new GPX 4500 has a lot of new preset functions. Minelab’s advertisement states that the GPX 4500 has “automatic functions and Pre-set search modes” that will “make you an expert in a matter of moments”! WOW. An expert at what? Prospecting? Research? Detectoring? Well, obviously these presets will do nothing of the sort. I seriously doubt it will even make you an expert in using the GPX 4500, unless of course the new bar for perfection is the factory presets and automated functions. I guess for the next 12 to 18 months all the praise folks normally heap on guys like Jonathan Porter and Bob Dansie will be evenly distributed among all 4500 users as they will all be Experts.

I’m sure the presets will allow the new detectorists to feel confident that the machine is basically set up right from the get go and give them some options to fool around with based on their assessment of the ground conditions, type of gold in the area, etc. until they figure out how to actually tweak the machine to get the most out of it. The GPX series are pretty complex metal detectors and so I doubt the machines will be churning out any “experts” any time soon. It certainly will not prospect for you, research for you, dig for you or tell you where to put your coil.

Well, now that I’ve made fun of the marketing dept. at Minelab, let’s look at what the R&D department has brought to the table with this new release. ( I might still make some fun)…

There are quite a few interesting features which Minelab talks about in their documentation. The first most interesting one is GB off for neutral soils. This is a feature available on the GS5 and can be valuable in many circumstances.

In addition to the now stock lithium ion battery, the new GPX 4500 sports a built in amplifier. No more pesky, overpriced aftermarket products to deal with! (I’ve never understood why someone would buy a Coiltek LI unit for a GPX, but it happens.)

A stabilizer function can fine tune the threshold.

Getting back to the preset modes we see that in addition to the General and Deep Search modes, there are four new presets: HI Mineral, HI trash, Patch and Test A modes. Sure to make an expert out of anyone.

HI Trash? Well, let’s look at what they say about the discrimination. According to Minelab it “gives you access to the worst of trashy ground.” Their “iron reject” function will allow the operator to set the desired level of discrimination anywhere between cautious and aggressive. I see this as one of the best functions. Minelab has quite a bad reputation to shake off from their first attempts at iron reject in the SD2200 and early GP’s. Later GP’s are impressive in this function and I can only imagine that this function has continued to improve with this latest offering. Very tempting.

Now, in addition to the previous technologies of DVT ( dual voltage technology ) and MPS ( multi period sensing ) , a new technology has arrived, SETA or Smart Electronic Timing Alignment. Here is the lowdown as Minelab describes it:

“The GPX-4500 now offers a total of six Timing options to suit different detecting conditions. Previous GP series detectors operated using one universal alignment suitable to all their timings. With so many different timing options packed into the GPX-4500, it was no longer possible to rely on a single alignment, and so the Smart Electronic Timing Alignment or SETA concept was born.

SETA automatically sets a precise alignment for each Timing option. What this means is that in each timing, noises caused by magnetic interference will be minimised, the threshold will remain more stable, and signals from highly magnetic rocks will be significantly reduced. This allows you to harness all the power of the GPX-4500, and operate it more efficiently under different conditions.

SETA technology allows each timing to operate independently and much more efficiently so that deep and small hard to hear nuggets become more obvious.”

It’s been suggested that perhaps this technology will allow the GPX4500 PI to run underneath power lines. Maybe. I myself see it as an improved ground balancing technology but will keep my ear to the ground to find out what it really does.

So, is it time to sell the old PI and get into the newest technology?? Well, for certain, it will cost you. I’m sure many will decide that the time is right. Until then, enjoy what you’ve got and may nuggets flow into your poke regardless.

Cheers,

Ted

Gold briefly hit $1000 for the first time in history today. (current gold price) Selling cause a brief dip below that mark but I’d fully expect it to vault permanently over $1000 per troy oz within a few days. If you look at the one year trend (one year trend), it shows this will be the case. It will be a long time before we see gold below $1000 per Toz.

Now, even though when you account for inflation $1000 doesn’t quite match the mark of the price gold in 1980, it’s still a big landmark, if only in peoples minds. The price of gold made Drudge Report’s top headline today. In case you didn’t know it, that’s big business! It alerts the unaware to the situation at hand. It moves the news world, spawns more articles regarding not only the price of gold but side issues like environmental impact of gold mining as well as the expansion of mining claims closing in on the outskirts of cities. A recent article in the Los Angeles Times covered just that issue (see here). It talks about Riverside, San Bernardino, Phoenix, Mesa and Las Vegas directly. Prepare for impact.

This wave of news will cause more awareness and thus more opposition and More Mining Claims. Research is of extreme importance to the modern nugget hunter. As gold rises, more and more people will seek gold nuggets. Idiots who don’t know where to or not to drive, landing on cantankerous claim owners spots, feeling they have the right, claiming your spot, over claiming your spot and possible gun pulling. Maybe not at $1000 per oz just yet but it’s not going to stop here. I’m not trying to be a defeatist or negative, just bearing in mind some of the possible realities. We all want to stay safe. The desert is dangerous enough without adding the idiot bent on gold factor. As Jim P. has said, gold fever can be a blessing or a curse. For me and perhaps you it’s a blessing. For others…. We’ll see.

Some really positive factors come out of all this as well. For those who have a lot of gold or are set with claims and good at finding it, have all the equipment, etc. this can only mean better profits from the hobby. A small gold nugget pays for my gas tank a lot faster these days than it did when gold was at $300 a troy ounce, even with the rising price of fuel and crude oil. Best strategy is to keep at it, keep researching, keep finding gold and move forward with a new game plan or new rules in mind. I hope we can all continue to enjoy ourselves. Be careful out there and good luck figuring out the best times to hold or sell.

Now, how many explanation points will I require when it hits $3000?