Square Nails and Gold In Topsoil

[Aufisher]

 

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[Lanny in AB]

Keep sniffing around and see what else turns up.

All the best,

Lanny

Metal Detecting For Gold

 

[Jim Hemmingway]

Hello Aufisher... these square nails plus that oldtimer’s pick blade you displayed awhile back have you well on your way to a good relic collection. I keep samples of different types of nails and other iron pieces found in the field and use many for testing on my PI and VLF units. Nails don't bother me much in the field, either I ignore them or remove them… one by one… if I think I'm over productive ground.

The photo below displays only a few of the many iron items I’ve found and packed home… in part because I see their history. I’m never in too much of a hurry not to take a moment to pack-up some relics of yesteryear, and I doubt you are much different from me in that respect. Good luck and good hunting.

Jim.

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[Aufisher]

Thank you Jim! I do treasure my iron collection! You have some great pieces!! Thanks for sharing. Happy hunting sir!

 

[Jim Hemmingway]

Aufisher… a few more comments after thinking about this thread for awhile.

It seems to me that I’ve spent a disproportionate amount of time over the years testing how metal detectors and coil combinations react to variable iron shapes and sizes, and to variable iron mineralizations encountered while metal detecting in different areas across the country. In either form, my initial reaction is that iron is the bane of metal detecting for precious metals. But that is not an entirely complete picture. Iron does have some redeeming attributes or uses, aside from historical significance to relic collectors.

We all realize that over time iron corrodes, forming a rust halo that changes or enhances iron signals such that their target ID can and does differ from what can be expected from benchtested iron, or freshly buried iron targets in a backyard testplot. So from a practical standpoint, mining camp iron trash at variable depths is ideal to test and evaluate detector / coil combinations over real-world ground conditions and mineralizations for meaningful results.

Second, I think that iron-infested areas in prime silver hunting country here in Ontario are a blessing because proliferate iron signals effectively conceal valuable silver ores. Without the iron junk, readily accessible mining camps would soon be stripped of detectable near-surface silver.

And third, in our heavily forested outback, patches of iron trash alert you to sites of past activity that might otherwise be overlooked…sites long since obscured by encroaching forest cover. But there’s no mistaking abundant iron signals. These are a tip-off to search for relics and bottles…particularly bottles on the downside of the nearest hillslope. It was such a scenario that led me to a deposit of large silver in the outback a few years ago… handsome silver that might otherwise not have been found. That's it... just a few thoughts to chew on...

Jim.

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[Aufisher]

Great points sir! What a treat to see that silver ore! Nature is quite amazing and man's junk piles are a great indicator of past presence. Too bad they didn't line sardine cans with gold! Happy hunting!