Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.
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| Finds made by Mark G. on a Forth Hunt At the Jensen Cafe Site. |
I've done three previous posts about three separate hunts at what I now call the Jensen Cafe site. I am talking about where the snack shop was at Jensen Beach. The cafe was demolished, and Mark G. recognized the opportunity and hunted the site three different times. He detected the site again and sent in the results of this new hunt.
Below is Mark G's report on his last hunt. He also reported on some tests he some subsequent tests he conducted with his Nokta Legend.
I know I said the last time it would be my last email well I lied. Right after that I found the best find yet, a 14K 22 inch solid gold chain. Funny thing is I probably only found it by accident digging up a coin as it does not ring up in the setting I was in. But that’s been happening a lot with junk jewelry as well. As predicted my coin count goes down by roughly a dollar every evening when I hunt there, however as predicted the finds are getting older. Last evening I dug 9 copper pennies and 2 wheat pennies. I haven’t seen any signs of other hunters don’t know if you got any feed back but I am still going every evening until they kick me out.
On a side note now that I have some gold pieces on hand and finding the gold chain by accident I decided to test my gold settings on my Nokta Legend. I have 4 profiles in Beach Mode, (1) I set per my book by Andy Sabisch to find gold “the gold setting” (2) I have the factory settings tweaked a little for the beach (3) I left Factory as is on the latest program 1.17 (bought it at 1.11) and (4) is my highly tweaked parking lot mode. I tested 3 articles a very small 14K diamond earring (found by accident in Publix parking lot) a small gold filled ring (Found with detector in beach parking) and the 14K 9 gram chain found by accident at the Dunes café site. All modes picked up the very thin gold ring loud and clear, the small earring was very faint I probably wouldn’t have found it in the sand, however the chain was silent in all modes accept one. The factory setting mode (3) completely untouched by me heard the chain loud enough to find it in the sand. I guess I am not smarter than the engineers at NOKTA.
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| Objects Used in NOKTA Legend Test. |
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| Gold Marks. |
Mark's results are what would be expected with this type of site. In fact, his results illustrate remarkably well what I was said would typically happen when you continue to hunt a productive site.
The first hunt will typically produce a lot of surface targets that can be recovered quickly. The coin count will be relatively high. As you continue to work the site, expect more older and better targets after many of the easier targets have been removed. That is exactly what is shown by Marks finds over his four hunts.
I mentioned before some of the reasons that happens. I recently presented my Intensive Step Search strategy for that type of site.
Changing settings or even detector will often help turn up targets that were previously missed for one reason or another. Different settings will sometimes allow you to detect targets that were missed before., Using different detector will also work - sometimes better. As you remove more targets and pay more attention to deeper targets and more subtle signals, you might want to change from what i would call a finesse metal detector to more of a power detector (a detector that probably has fewer bells and whistles but has great sensitivity to small and deep targets.) During that stage you focus more on the most borderline or questionable signals. By that stage you should have used most junk and want to really clean things out.
It is also a good idea after finding a good target that provides a marginal signal, to test various detector settings on the target, which Mark did. You can learn more about your detector that way and also learn to fine tune the detector for that kind of target.
When doing tests like this, vary the settings to see how you can get the best signal from the targets you are most interested in. Different settings will have its own strengths and weaknesses, just like any detector will have its own strengths and weaknesses.
An estimation of what the site might hold and consideration of your goals will determine your choice of settings or detectors. You won't always be right but you'll get feedback from your experience at the site so you can continue to make adjustments.
Of course, there are problem with both air and ground tests, which I've talked about before. For example, during such a test, the user often sweeps to obtain the maximum signal strength. Typically, the operator perfectly centers the object under the coil and adjust the sweep speed until they get the strongest signal. The problem with that is that is not how you operate in the field. Most often the target is not perfectly centered under the sweep spot, and very often the sweep speed is too fast, but could also be too slow - depending upon the detector and conditions.
I once did a post on the problem with air tests. Some of the same problems are present with ground tests, which I've talked about before too. See, for example, The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 1/19/15 Report - Some Problems With Air Tests: Physical & Psychological. Calm Surf and Sandy Beaches
Once you get the optimal signal, take note of the sweep speed. Is that the same sweep speed you use when detecting? If it is not, that means the test isn't a 100% applicable. You might want to adjust the sweep speed you actually use when detecting.
When doing ground tests, move the coil slower and faster. Notice the effect on the signal strength. When you identify the optimal sweep speed, try to use that same speed when detecting. That will take some practice and discipline.
Another thing to test is how depth affects the signal. Notice how much depth affects your target signal.
I'll wrap it up there for today.
No big changes with the surf coming up soon.
Good hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net