Nuggets of News Blog 

Ancient documents indicate that over 2,000 years ago, a Chinese emperor developed a metal detecting device using magnets. The purpose of his invention was to find weapons before they were used to assassinate him! In the early 20th century in America, metal detectors were developed to monitor metal tools and products in manufacturing plants, primarily to prevent theft. During WWII, more advanced equipment was developed to aid in locating land mines. In 1945, these mine detectors, along with countless other war surplus items, showed up in the marketplace at a fraction of their cost. Veterans familiar with the mine detectors were quick to realize that this equipment could also locate buried treasure... and a new hobby was born!  Just one more reason to thank a Vet for his/her service!  Today, several companies such as Garrett and Fisher  and Bounty Hunter and others have perfected the modern art of metal detecting and the machines just keep getting better.

Purist beach detectorists will argue that the best time to find goodies on a beach is after winter storms. While that’s certainly true, any time after a crowd has been through (Mondays following busy weekends or the day after a holiday), can mean a fresh crop of coins and jewelry just waiting to be found by your metal detector. Although some beaches can yield historic artifacts, most finds will likley be of the modern variety.

In all types of beach hunting, the discrimination must be kept very low, eliminating only small iron (bobby pins and nails). Aluminum pull tabs and tin foil should not be discriminated or you will lose some gold and/or platinum rings as well. Some beach hunters operate with zero discrimination and dig everything. Using a sand scoop makes target recovery faster and easier.

If you plan to hunt only in dry sand and in very shallow water, a good coin shooting detector will work well if you keep the discrimination set low. If you wish to go out into deeper water you will need a totally submersible machine. Some machines have a single tone for all targets and some have variable tones for different targets. It’s important to realize that most gold rings will read in the “middle” tones (above iron but below coins).

All metal detectors work well in the dry ocean sand but most single frequency detectors become erratic in the wet salt sand or in the surf. Wet salt makes the ground conductive and the detector sees the sand as a large sheet of metal. In order to operate in those areas with most single frequency instruments, you must decrease the sensitivity of the detector and it may still operate erratically. If you only occasionally visit the ocean and own an instrument that becomes erratic in wet salt sand, you can still operate perfectly in the dry sand area. If you live near the ocean, or get to the ocean frequently, consider investing in a detector that will operate well in all conditions including wet salt sand. Those detectors are generally higher priced than multi-purpose detectors, but they are definitely worth the investment if you frequent the ocean. Good luck and have fun!

After practicing a while, everyone develops their own personal technique for gold panning. Some vigorously shake the pan, some gently swish it from side to side. There are about as many different techniques, tips, and tricks as there are types of gold pans!  In truth, there is no real "right" way to pan for gold-- if you're gettin' a flash in the pan, you're doing it right! If you're just getting started, though, and don't know where to begin, follow these easy steps and before long, you will develop your own methods:

1. Fill pan about half full of gravel, small rocks, and sand collected from the stream bed
2. Put the pan under the water's surface, break up large lumps of clay or dirt, and remove stones
3. Continue to hold the pan level under the water with your hands on opposite sides, and tilt the pan forward, away from your body, and down slightly. Rotate and shake it side to side to let gravel and sand dribble out the front. Pick out the rocks.
4. Repeat step 3 several times until most of the material is removed, leaving  less than a cup of fine-grained dark material overlain with a thin layer of light material at the bottom of your pan.
5. Rotate the pan in a circular motion. Notice how the water separates lighter material from heavier.
6. Stop rotating and hopefully you'll see a flash in the dark material remaining in the bottom of your pan! Use tweezers to retrieve the gold and place in a vial for safe-keeping.

Good luck!

Thanks to the modern day gold rush, the Desert Fox automatic spiral panning machine has become a best seller! Most prospectors tend to favor the Variable Speed model, but it also comes in Constant Speed. Have you seen this machine work? It is very compact, weighs under 10 pounds, folds up and stores neatly in its own Action Packer tub. You can take it anywhere! Operate it right out of the tub, or remove it from the case and use it in a stream. The Desert Fox is aptly named because it was designed to conserve water and will operate on just three gallons. Recovers an amazing amount of flour gold so you never lose even the smallest pieces (which all add up!). Operates on any 12-volt automotive battery (not included) or even a 35 watt solar panel. Ships complete with an easy-to-understand owner's manual, a video, and a bag of practice sand containing real placer gold so you can get acquainted with your new machine even before you leave the house. You won't need much practice, though, because in no time you'll discover how efficient and easy it is to use. With gold at over $1,000 an ounce, get a Desert Fox automatic spiral panning machine and get out there and get your share!

Whether you're a treasure hunter, hiker, surveyor, landscaper, hunter, fisherman or work outside like the US Border Patrol and US Foresty Service employees do, if you spend any amount of time in the woods or desert, you'll want to protect your legs against snake bite, painful cacti needles, and other dangers. We've always carried Snake Guardz, and now are pleased to offer Snake Chapz or Snake Chapz FP (full protection) as well! Seriously, no treasure hunter or outdoorsmen (or woman) should be without cool, comfortable leg armor to protect against poisonous vipers. Many patterns/color and sizes (up to XXXL!) to choose from so you can easily blend into your environment (especially important to hunters and wildlife watchers). Snake Guardz and Snake Chapz are backed by the manufacturer's LIFETIME Repair or Replacement Warranty, so you can't go wrong. But don't take my word for it, simply watch this Field Test Video and you'll be AMAZED!  Please don't take chances with snakes in the great outdoors-- get your Snake Guardz, Snake Chapz or Snake Chapz Full Protection today!

Although the kids are heading back to school soon, summer is not over yet! Plenty of nice weather for enjoying the great outdoors. If you didn't get to camp as much as you would have liked, plan a short trip this month. Campgrounds and wilderness areas will be less crowded, making for a quieter and probably more pleasant experience. As you pack the gear, don't forget your metal detector! Although searching around campfire rings will most likely reveal trash, searching near picnic tables, restrooms, and play areas could produce a real find. Someone must have spilled their purse near a BBQ grill at a local campground because my detector uncovered not one, not two, but at least a dozen quarters and other assorted change in the sand at the base of the grill! What a pleasant surprise while waiting for the burgers to cook! Happy Labor Day!