Is it possible for a tree root to completely swallow a coin?

dirtyJohn

dirtyJohn

Hero Member
Nov 30, 2007
643
47
Whiskey Junction, IL
Detector(s) used
Fisher F75 LTD2, Tesoro Tiger Shark, DetectorPro Uniprobe, DetectorPro Pistol Probe
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Upvote 0
I would think so. I've seen trees above the ground slowly grow around a metal sign nailed to it. I'm sure the same is true underground.
 

A couple years ago I was helping to cut out an apple orchard to replace old and diseased trees.
my saw hit something in an old root ball that wasn't a rock and broke the crank. when we knocked the stump apart with an axe we found a horseshoe that the roots had swallowed some 45 or more years ago.

A quarter would be no problem for any tree.

Other things found in trees include a locket in the crotch of a tree someone had lost
Bullets.
an old handy man jack handle that had been leaned up against the tree and forgotten.
another horseshoe someone had picked up and set over a branch (which was also swallowed up)

So my answer would definitely be yes it can be swallowed by the roots.
I respect your decision not to harm the tree. You are OK in my book.
 

Hey John I once got a nice merc in the middle of a 3" root next to a sidewalk.
 

I've encountered signals in a couple fallen trees before. I assume they were bullets. Could be a large piece of iron well below the root. Big pieces of deep iron have been known to signal high for me before. Does your pinpointer (probe) pick it up in the root?

-Swartzie
 

dirtyJohn said:
I asked this because I got a perfect quarter signal 7 inches or so down under a huge tree root. I dug around it and under it about a foot with no luck but the signal is still there. The signal has to be in the root. Has anyone ever encountered this?
HH
John
P.S. No, I'm not going to hack away at the root. It would be visible and could kill this old tree.
Click to expand...
Very same thing happened to me this year.........a dime signal but nothing there but a large root.
 

mountainman 2 said:
I would think so. I've seen trees above the ground slowly grow around a metal sign nailed to it. I'm sure the same is true underground.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I was thinking the same thing.
Old Dog said:
A couple years ago I was helping to cut out an apple orchard to replace old and diseased trees.
my saw hit something in an old root ball that wasn't a rock and broke the crank. when we knocked the stump apart with an axe we found a horseshoe that the roots had swallowed some 45 or more years ago.

A quarter would be no problem for any tree.

Other things found in trees include a locket in the crotch of a tree someone had lost
Bullets.
an old handy man jack handle that had been leaned up against the tree and forgotten.
another horseshoe someone had picked up and set over a branch (which was also swallowed up)

So my answer would definitely be yes it can be swallowed by the roots.
I respect your decision not to harm the tree. You are OK in my book.
Click to expand...
Thanks, that confirms it. P.S. Thanks for the compliment
XL-PRO PRO said:
Probably just an old CSA buckle anyway.
Click to expand...
Stop it! :D
Lowbatts said:
Hey John I once got a nice merc in the middle of a 3" root next to a sidewalk.
Click to expand...
Hey Tim, I cannot tell a lie. I put that merc in that tree root.
Swartzie said:
I've encountered signals in a couple fallen trees before. I assume they were bullets. Could be a large piece of iron well below the root. Big pieces of deep iron have been known to signal high for me before. Does your pinpointer (probe) pick it up in the root?

-Swartzie
Click to expand...
I think I would of got an overload if it was a big piece of iron, No, my pinpointer didn't pick it up and it should've.

m bryan said:
dirtyJohn said:
I asked this because I got a perfect quarter signal 7 inches or so down under a huge tree root. I dug around it and under it about a foot with no luck but the signal is still there. The signal has to be in the root. Has anyone ever encountered this?
HH
John
P.S. No, I'm not going to hack away at the root. It would be visible and could kill this old tree.
Click to expand...
Very same thing happened to me this year.........a dime signal but nothing there but a large root.
Click to expand...
Strange huh?
HH
John
 

I pulled a CW bullet from a tree root one time . Really cool.
 

Good place to bury a cache of coins, right next to an old tree.
 

yea it was probably just the mason jar lid you were gettin the signal from.............full of 20 dollar gold eagles :laughing7:
 

I have had this happen many times.......Roots not only absorb water from the soil but they also absorb minerals and such from the soil also and will make a detector go off too. I know there are alot of cases when roots actually consume relics and coins but also the concentration of minerals can be mind blowing also. On my whites machines it usually read between hot rocks up to quarter. But I would also make sure somehow that it was not some old CSA buckle or a cache of coins because like others have said on this thread, people would bury their money next to trees and fence post etc. so you just might have some goodies there too. Tim
 

Have seen a tree completely swallow a strand of barbed wire that was wrapped around it. Have also found signals in roots turning out to be mineral as stated above. If you have a small (4") head you can use that to figure out what's going on. If you have a pinpointer, use it! You can follow mineralization through the root. A coin in a root would be a localized signal.

Funny this came up! Yesterday, helped a neighbor with a sprinkler leak. Turns out a tree root had pushed a PVC pipe with enough force to literally rip the pipe out of a TEE, glue and all. Try doing that with a pair of pliers and a vice. Futher up the root or one next to it had pried a brick off a planter. If you do any prospecting or rockhounding, I'm sure you've seen a root growing through a crack in the rock and split a chunk of rock off.
 

I have wondered the same thing as well
 

nope-not possible-lodged between 2 roots or tight underneath one but not inside of one unless it was lodged in to begin with and grew around.....

JT
 

i saw a wood bench between 2 trees and it grew around it on both sides. my neighbor had a tree in their front yard and the roots grew into the septic tank, through the pipes, and into the toilet!!!!
 

there are two things it can be #1 a coin --without a doubt tree roots can and do grow around and "swallow" items within them --or --- #2 large tree roots carry the trees "life force" electrical impluses --these impluses can react with your detector coil 's electrical feild that it makes -- much the same way a electric power line can -- its natural made electric impluses rather than man made is all.(its the nervious system of the tree if you think of it that way) .
 

I've dug to roots and stopped. I've never dug 7" past a root, but if I did I would do this:

Set your loop on top of the root and adj your sens until you are on the edge. Check your sens against the bottom of the root. As you move down away from the root(for your 7") does the signal get stronger or weaker?

I confess. I'd have walked away long before you have.
 

batcap said:
I've dug to roots and stopped. I've never dug 7" past a root, but if I did I would do this:

Set your loop on top of the root and adj your sens until you are on the edge. Check your sens against the bottom of the root. As you move down away from the root(for your 7") does the signal get stronger or weaker?

I confess. I'd have walked away long before you have.
Click to expand...
The root was close to the base of the tree so most of it was exposed. I'll try your suggestion.
HH
John
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

question about where not to detect

⬅️ Previous Thread

*

Next Thread ➡️

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
We Dig Metal Detectors

Latest Discussions

Back
Top