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Hello AZO,
Nice site you have here. Not really new to the electronic prospecting field, as I have been swinging a detector for some time now. I have used mostly the vlf detectors, and using the Minelab Golden Hawk now with some success. Purchased a larger coil for the unit from a dealer in Sun City, but have yet to find a nugget with the new coil.
I hunt a lot around Quartzsite and Yuma area. My biggest find so far is 2.3 Pennyweights in size. Sometimes I'm wondering if I have walked over bigger gold deeper, as I know I'm not getting the depth the PI units are.
Curious to know how much performance I would get with a GP Extreme over the Golden Hawk? Only have no much to spend on a new detector, and do not want to make a purchase if it will not justify much more depth over the Hawk. Any help would be appreciated.
Thx,
Dale
Quartzsite region, AZ
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New to forum interested in a PI unit
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#2
Chris Gholson 
- Advanced Member
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- Group: Admin
- Posts: 2,624
- Joined: 06-March 03
Posted 07 April 2003 - 11:51 PM
Hi Dale,
Welcome to the AZO forum - glad to have you aboard!
I field tested the Golden Hawk for Minelab several years back when it made its' debut here in the US. It is a great machine, kind of similar in appearance to an SD only using VLF technology. The GH offers best performance in areas of light ground mineralization and where objects are not likely to be more than 8-10 inches in depth. I had good luck with it in several Arizona washes where the bedrock was exposed.
As far as depth penetration and ability to handle severe ground mineralization, hot rocks, etc., it would be difficult for the GH (or any other VLF machine) to compete with the SD or GP series machines. The PI units were designed for the sole purpose of finding deep nuggets in nasty soil. When the SD 2000 first came out some of my friends in Western Australia raced back to the old patches they had pounded with their VLFs and had a picnic. One guy in particular, told me that for the first few months he averaged between 3-10 ounces per day! If the areas you hunt are shallow (less than 5" to bedrock) and are fairly clean of hot rocks, I would keep at it with the VLF. However, if you would like to chase larger nuggets at depth or work spots loaded with iron-bearing minerals, the PI machines sure do make it nice!
I would recommend you talk with other detectorists in the Quartzsite area and on this forum. There are a lot of experienced hunters that post here, I'm sure they would be happy to share their thoughts with you. Best of luck with all your prospecting...
Chris
Here's a photo of some nuggets my girlfriend and I pulled from the southern end of the Dome Rocks during a weekend outing last season with the GPs.
Welcome to the AZO forum - glad to have you aboard!
I field tested the Golden Hawk for Minelab several years back when it made its' debut here in the US. It is a great machine, kind of similar in appearance to an SD only using VLF technology. The GH offers best performance in areas of light ground mineralization and where objects are not likely to be more than 8-10 inches in depth. I had good luck with it in several Arizona washes where the bedrock was exposed.
As far as depth penetration and ability to handle severe ground mineralization, hot rocks, etc., it would be difficult for the GH (or any other VLF machine) to compete with the SD or GP series machines. The PI units were designed for the sole purpose of finding deep nuggets in nasty soil. When the SD 2000 first came out some of my friends in Western Australia raced back to the old patches they had pounded with their VLFs and had a picnic. One guy in particular, told me that for the first few months he averaged between 3-10 ounces per day! If the areas you hunt are shallow (less than 5" to bedrock) and are fairly clean of hot rocks, I would keep at it with the VLF. However, if you would like to chase larger nuggets at depth or work spots loaded with iron-bearing minerals, the PI machines sure do make it nice!
I would recommend you talk with other detectorists in the Quartzsite area and on this forum. There are a lot of experienced hunters that post here, I'm sure they would be happy to share their thoughts with you. Best of luck with all your prospecting...
Chris
Here's a photo of some nuggets my girlfriend and I pulled from the southern end of the Dome Rocks during a weekend outing last season with the GPs.
#3 Guest_Dale_*
Posted 09 April 2003 - 05:40 PM
Chris,
I was gone for a few days, so thanks for getting back with me. I am seriously thinking about a new GP Extreme metal detector. I spent nearly a week on the internet researching the unit, and man it sure sounds like it is the hottest detector today.
Around the Quartzsite area I have not experienced too many hotrocks, but over towards the California border, I found a small placer that was just loaded with them. I even tried the Golden Hawk, but it did no justice in such a place. That is where I found by biggest nugget to date, the 2.3 Dwt piece. I'm hoping with a unit like the GP Extreme I will be able to get some bigger gold. All the washes are deep, and very little false bedrock (Caliche) is exposed.
Curious on whats the best deal on the GP Extreme is? I know there are several dealers around Quartzsite selling them, but not certain they are so-called experts with the unit. I did call Minelab in Las Vegas, and they gave me several dealers in Quartzsite, and several in the Phoenix/Peoria area? However, not certain they gave your listing? Are you listed under AZO for Minelab?
I'm willing to drive into Phoenix if I can get a good deal on an Extreme.
Thx,
Dale
Quartzsite region
I was gone for a few days, so thanks for getting back with me. I am seriously thinking about a new GP Extreme metal detector. I spent nearly a week on the internet researching the unit, and man it sure sounds like it is the hottest detector today.
Around the Quartzsite area I have not experienced too many hotrocks, but over towards the California border, I found a small placer that was just loaded with them. I even tried the Golden Hawk, but it did no justice in such a place. That is where I found by biggest nugget to date, the 2.3 Dwt piece. I'm hoping with a unit like the GP Extreme I will be able to get some bigger gold. All the washes are deep, and very little false bedrock (Caliche) is exposed.
Curious on whats the best deal on the GP Extreme is? I know there are several dealers around Quartzsite selling them, but not certain they are so-called experts with the unit. I did call Minelab in Las Vegas, and they gave me several dealers in Quartzsite, and several in the Phoenix/Peoria area? However, not certain they gave your listing? Are you listed under AZO for Minelab?
I'm willing to drive into Phoenix if I can get a good deal on an Extreme.
Thx,
Dale
Quartzsite region
#4 Guest_Dale_*
Posted 09 April 2003 - 05:44 PM
Chris,
I forgot to mention that is some nice gold you found around the Dome Mountains. You probably found more sizable gold nuggets in your weekend outing, than I have in several years. Most of my pieces are very small in size, and biggest at 2.3 Dwt's. Looks somewhat similar to your larger, flat one.
Any suggestions on where someone might do a bit better around Quartzsite? Seems as if most of the better spots are claimed. I have tried the Roadrunner and GPAA claims, but they have been torn apart by drywashers and seasonal visitors.
Thx,
Dale
Quartzsite region
I forgot to mention that is some nice gold you found around the Dome Mountains. You probably found more sizable gold nuggets in your weekend outing, than I have in several years. Most of my pieces are very small in size, and biggest at 2.3 Dwt's. Looks somewhat similar to your larger, flat one.
Any suggestions on where someone might do a bit better around Quartzsite? Seems as if most of the better spots are claimed. I have tried the Roadrunner and GPAA claims, but they have been torn apart by drywashers and seasonal visitors.
Thx,
Dale
Quartzsite region
#5
StanTHEMan
- Advanced Member
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- Group: Members
- Posts: 349
- Joined: 05-March 03
Posted 09 April 2003 - 06:47 PM
Dale,
I highly recommend that you give Chris a call ASAP. He's currently running a special right now on the GP Extreme and the price is hard to beat anywhere. Not to mention that he offers a half day lesson with it just to ensure that you know how to operate it properly. I bought one from him last week and the difference between the PI technology and my old VLF detector is absolutely UNBELIEVABLE!!! I think you will be very pleased.
Good Luck working that area, I hear there are some nice nuggets being pulled out of there.
Keep your Coil to the Soil,
Stan THE Man
I highly recommend that you give Chris a call ASAP. He's currently running a special right now on the GP Extreme and the price is hard to beat anywhere. Not to mention that he offers a half day lesson with it just to ensure that you know how to operate it properly. I bought one from him last week and the difference between the PI technology and my old VLF detector is absolutely UNBELIEVABLE!!! I think you will be very pleased.
Good Luck working that area, I hear there are some nice nuggets being pulled out of there.
Keep your Coil to the Soil,
Stan THE Man
#6
Paratrooper
- Member
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- Group: Members
- Posts: 144
- Joined: 12-April 03
Posted 12 April 2003 - 08:28 PM
Dale , if the claims have been hammered by drywashers you might be able to cash in on that . They have probably cleared away overburden that would have kept you from finding deeper stuff . Work their holes ASAP . I am in the same boat as you . I am wondering which unit to hang my hat on . The PI units are the beasts of metal detecting . The other types have too many bells and whistles and serve several uses . I don't wanna hunt parks and other such spots . I just wanna do the wet sand and the desert . The beach cleaning crews cannot run their machines on wet sand . They will get stuck . So this area will always be hot . The desert is also a tough area to penetrate so a PI will make short work of it .
I do not knock those that use discriminating units since that is their best choice for the ground they hunt on . It just so happens that I want DEPTH and virtually nothing else . Good luck .
I do not knock those that use discriminating units since that is their best choice for the ground they hunt on . It just so happens that I want DEPTH and virtually nothing else . Good luck .
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