Detecting in pea gravel

[stevew]

I got permission to hunt at a local church. There is a large grass area I’m going to hit
but they also have a very large parking lot with about 4 inches of small pea gravel.
Do you think it would be worth the time to check it out? I don’t know how effective it
would be going thru rock.
Thanks a lot.

 

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[Sheldius]

I've had luck digging through pea to large gravel. Coins don't seem to move far down in them, so just sweep away the top few inches and recheck to determine if the signal has moved. Parking gravel, in general, is pretty good for modern coins. If it's not an old area, you may want to discrimate out iron trash.

Trying to dig deeper to find things under thick gravel, now that would be a pain. Gravel will fall back into hole like sand, and the dirt tends to make the gravel look messy afterward. Good luck.

HH.

 

[stevew]

WOW! This was fast Sheklivs!
Thank you for the quick responce. This will be my 1st time out and I'm looking forward to it.
I would like to find someone in the Acworth, Kennesaw GA area to go out with sometime.
Thanks again for your help!
Steve

 

[Sheldius]

I'd use a old garden trowel. Or something you don't mind getting dinged up. That gravel can scratch up metal fast. Polishes it quick too.

 

[stevew]

Right now I really don’t care if the coins or my equipment gets scratched up, I just want to find something. I’m very new to the hobby and I have only played around in my back yard looking for coins that I had buried. This will be my 1st time out “on the hunt”!

 

[Kilika]

stevew-

Welcome to T'net and MD'ing!

If you're hunting in true 'pea gravel' (with rounded edges, stays loose), it should be pretty easy going. If it's just 'gravel' (sharp edges, packs down), it could be pretty frustrating. Slow going when it's packed down. For your first hunt, why not try a beach? Or tot lot? Sand or wood chips are sooo much easier to dig. Like to see you have some success 1st time out!!

Good Luck & Keep us posted! Oh, yeah.. and pic's of whatever you find

Kilika

 

[Monty]

I have used one of those little 4 prong garden dirt scratching things whatever they are called for pea gravel in parking lots. The coins are usually just below the surface and easy to raKe up[ with one of them. You will find mostly clad because people drop it when they scoot across the seat to get out of their cars. Nothing wrong with clad, it spends just like "real" money! Monty

 

[Tin Nugget]

One park I hit about once a month has a picnic area bordered by railroad ties and is filled with pea gravel. Holds 9 tables and 3 grilles. I always make a point to buzz through it. Always find clad but more important, I often find jewelry. I use my beach sifter for quick recovery. A bit noisy when you shake the gravel out but I am usually there early before the munchkins arrive.

 

[DFX-SE Gregg]

Its time to leave the yard! Yess!

 

[MRBeyer]

Since my driveway is peagravel I figured I would put my 2 cents in. I bought a rolling magnet sweaper on ebay and used it to pick up the surface trash from my driveway, cleared a pound of junk, made detecting it way easier. Best $50 I think I have ever spent.

 

[stevew]

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions. I got to spend about 3 hours in the lot today after church. I ended up with 4 quarters, 4 dimes, six pennies and a bunch of pop tops. I'm sure most of you guys would have come up with a lot more, but I sure had a great time! I cant believe how fast the time goes when you hunting, and how fast your heart beats when you find something. I hope that never changes for me!

 

[Kilika]

WTG!!! Fun, ain't it?

 

[DFX-SE Gregg]

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions. I got to spend about 3 hours in the lot today after church. I ended up with 4 quarters, 4 dimes, six pennies and a bunch of pop tops. I'm sure most of you guys would have come up with a lot more, but I sure had a great time! I cant believe how fast the time goes when you hunting, and how fast your heart beats when you find something. I hope that never changes for me!

Good job!

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

I don't think it ever changes...Your finds just get better As for the Pea Gravel most of your older coins if any are in there will come out real scratched. Most coins in Gravel are badly Scratched.

Keep @ it and HH!!