Thanks Reg, yes the sample in the photo above was a nice find, and coincidentally also takes a decent photo. Some samples do not photo realistically, while others look better than they should…at least with my older low megapixel camera. Obviously silver isn’t gold, but as specimens I’ve seen fairly steep price tags attached. I don’t sell, so can afford to hold with a philosophy that they’re just interesting rocks that make for enjoyable, memorable life experiences.
In fact, I’d intended to hunt gold this year, traveled the 600 or so miles only to find, despite assurances to the contrary, the private reserve campground closed for the season. There’s no arguing with road barriers down and 45 gal drums loaded with rocks across the road. I anticipated not having hydro access, and that was a decisive factor in buying the Infinium at the time. “AA” batteries are handy for extended excursions into the bush. My intended search strategy at the time, aside from sluicing (no dredges allowed…I’ve got a 2” Keene sniper), was to use Infinium to recheck any areas where VLFs indicated potential, since good size pieces have been found in the past. After a few days of cramped sleep in the truck and scouting the area, I returned to familiar territory. But the prospects looked good, and I’m going back.
The background info about iron and magnetite is an interesting read. Most of us realize that iron hits well, but may not have understood why. Your comment about keeping the coil a bit elevated over higher mineral ground reminds me of what I’ve read repeatedly in Charles Garrett rock hunting publications years ago.
In case readers may like to see a few photos of some minerals mentioned in this thread recently, the following photos are magnetite (black sands) in crystal form, a nickeline specimen, a small but handsome silver nugget, and an additional photo of a silver-calcite sample found this past autumn.
These are widespread in my search areas although the nickeline is rare elsewhere. Magnetite (a non-conductive iron oxide) is an abundant negative hot rock (yielding the well-known “boing” signal familiar to electronic prospectors) in my area. If the ground balance control is advanced further into the ferrite end of the ground balance scale beyond magnetite’s ground balance setting, magnetite becomes a powerful positive hotrock “zip zip” signal.
The nickeline is quite conductive, and that conductivity is directly related to size in reasonably pure specimens.
Size is not much of a conductivity factor with silver here beyond an ounce or so, whereas the purity and structure do play a major role. Shape plays a variable role, as most ores and nuggets generally exhibit a “roundish” shape.
This may be a very modest specimen, but it ranks as one of my favorites. It was the very first piece I found using a PI detector. It was exactly one foot deep, found just as darkness was settling down over a remote backwoods tailings area. I clearly recollect rubbing my gloved hand over the surface hoping to see an indication of silver in the waning light.
Reg, before abandoning this thread I want to thank you for posting the initial information regarding gold alloy conductivities. I would not have imagined that adding silver to gold would reduce overall conductivity. I recollect Steve mentioning this phenomenon elsewhere recently too. It’s a genuine pleasure to have this opportunity again to speak with you. Your instructive posts have helped me a good deal, and for that I also sincerely thank you. Please have a safe and enjoyable Christmas holiday everyone.
Jim.