To dig or not to dig?

[VERODIGDUG]

I have a quick question. I live on the Treasure Coast and I'm new to md'ing. I was out on a local beach today during low tide and got a screaming hit. Based on the tone, it should've been pretty close to the surface....unless it was BIG. I panned out and roughly measured the tone from one end to another and came up with about 16ft long and 2 ft wide. I'm assuming i can't be the first person to find this. I dug about a foot and nothing..... I thought maybe it was just a major false so I moved on. On my way back I went to the area again and it was hitting the same as before. I'm assuming it can't be a storm drain since it ends way before the dune line. Any ideas on what it could be or if I should go back with a shovel and see if I can get to it? Something is def there! I hit the sand with my scoop and could feel the area around me move as if there was a hole under my feet. Just not sure if its worth the effort

 

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[bigscoop]

I believe one of the divers for Mel Fisher's group uncovered a heavy gold chain that was something like 11 ft. (Can't help you out, but I'm pretty darn good at planting a thought.)

PS: Probably just an old post or something.

 

[baywalker]

Must be a cannon.

 

[Lady Pirate]

A long streamline UBO......

 

[VERODIGDUG]

My buddy is a Lt. n the Indian River Fire Dept. he told me they're always finding bombs and ordinance on our beaches due to WWII training. Last one they detonated was 600 lbs and still live! Makes me a little gun shy to be shovel digging around something that big

 

[Sir Gala Clad]

I have a quick question. I live on the Treasure Coast and I'm new to md'ing. I was out on a local beach today during low tide and got a screaming hit. Based on the tone, it should've been pretty close to the surface....unless it was BIG. I panned out and roughly measured the tone from one end to another and came up with about 16ft long and 2 ft wide. I'm assuming i can't be the first person to find this. I dug about a foot and nothing..... I thought maybe it was just a major false so I moved on. On my way back I went to the area again and it was hitting the same as before. I'm assuming it can't be a storm drain since it ends way before the dune line. Any ideas on what it could be or if I should go back with a shovel and see if I can get to it? Something is def there! I hit the sand with my scoop and could feel the area around me move as if there was a hole under my feet. Just not sure if its worth the effort

Verodigdug;
Don’t dig ; you have already defeated yourself before even trying.
While you may not be the first person to detect this (big deal) , if valuable – you would be the first person to retrieve it (a very big deal). It will definitely take more effort than sitting in a reclining chair and changing channels or posting on a forum hoping that someone will do all the thinking for you.
Before even starting, you need to research if there is an active lease to the state that prevents you from going into the water or anything that could result in your equipment being taken away .
Next, I would search the newspapers to determine if any bombs or WWII ordinance was found on this beach. Or if any structures were constructed on/near the beach.
If not then you need to determine the best and safest way to determine what it might be. If you are hunting with a single frequency VLF detector, you simply could of discovered an underground stream or an area of the beach with high mineralization/salt which you are detecting.
It also could be that someone has heavily mined this area with closely spaced zinc pennies which would look continuous to your detector.
You might of even found a highly concentrated coin/ target line which will take days to work.
I would carefully try to determine if the object is solid and how deep it is. Initially with coil control and lifting the coil using a multifrequency VLF detector suitable for shallow water.
Next I would probably very carefully probe with a pointed wooden dowel, probably starting at the middle working toward the ends to determine if the object is solid and how deep it is, the assumpting being that it is not a round sea mine with multiple contact fuses like a porcupine.
As long a you don’t kill your self by doing something foolish, this would be a very exciting adventure even if you didn’t find anything of value. Something that you will remember for the rest of your life.
On the other hand, if you do nothing and someone finds valuable treasure, your memories will be those of regret.

 

[KevinInColorado]

I believe one of the divers for Mel Fisher's group uncovered a heavy gold chain that was something like 11 ft. (Can't help you out, but I'm pretty darn good at planting a thought.)

PS: Probably just an old post or something.

Yes, that's true, I've seen that chain up close myself! It was 10-15 feet under the sand when found.

 

[VERODIGDUG]

Thanks for the replies! I'm using a Sand Shark, which I'm not even all that familiar with yet. I'm heading back today....with a shovel!
The area in question is between the tide line and the dune so no state reg or lease will be broken. I sent an email to a local treasure hunting blogger in my area and without giving up the location, he told me exactly where I'd been!
As I thought, I'm not the first one to get this hit. Apparently it's a pretty well known location among Treasure Coast md'ers. He told me that he has heard of people trying to dig it up, but no one ever gets to it. Their best guess is a metal fence post. We shall see

 

[Sandman]

If you try and give up you will have a memory for the rest of your life. Unless your as old as I am an then you'd forget it as soon as you get back to the car. Just let it go..........

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

As much beach nourishment the state has done there it can easily be 10+ feet deep.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[FindSomeGold]

The first time I came across that, an old timer told me it was a storage tank of some kind and not to waste any effort on it.

 

[GatorBoy]

I think I know exactly what beach "1715" and target your talking about.
Its been there for years.. most I've talked to belive it to be a fence post.
But you never know.
Your length and width is most likely a bit larger than the actual object...especially if its been decomposing into the surrounding sand.
My friend talked about that just today.. also I think you will find this site very useful. H.H.
www.treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com

 

[VERODIGDUG]

That's it! Lol

He's talking about it cause I emailed him last night. Went to another spot and found what appears to be a spike and some tumbled silver!
Pics to follow

 

[GatorBoy]

Haha.. nice!!

 

[VERODIGDUG]

Here's some pics. The metal isn't magnetic and it almost feels like it leaves a softness on your fingers after rubbing it. Not sure what it is??
The nail is a square head and almost in 2 pieces

 

[GatorBoy]

That Looks like an old iron spike of some kind.. Not much left of that one. I'm guessing you found it low on the beach.. Near the water's edge low tide"ish" area.
The other pieces look like melted aluminum at first glance.
I don't see the patina and tarnish/corrosion you expect from old silver in a saltwater environment.
If you want to be sure put a drop of muriatic acid on one of them.. if it has a reaction its not silver.

 

[VERODIGDUG]

Thanks for the advice!

 

[GatorBoy]

No problem neibor.

 

[Fletch88]

I think you've found a larger diameter piece of steel or perhaps stainless steel pipe! Sharks love iron you know? Don't think I would dig and pry on it too hard.

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