nuggethunting

Hello Bob, There is a big nugget up there with your name on it. I thought the same thing and hunted my butt off for years and eventually found a "big one" after 5-6 years of hard hunting up there! I'm sure yours is up there to, but then again is it going to take days, weeks, months or years to find it. This weekends push might produce some good nuggets. That entire wash zone from push 5 down to push 2 was very rich in nuggets. I'm sure some decent ones will be found this weekend. Talk with you later, Rob Allison

Hello Mike, Thanks for posting the "Quick Referrence" chart! That will come in handy when you need to refer back to see what the original settings are or how much you can adjust the settings. It's my understanding after playing with the machine here at home that you can "edit" the (3) pre-programmed settings and save them. However, once you reset the detector (holdin the start button down 4-5 secs) the (3) pre-programmed settings would go back to the original default settings. Is this correct Mike? Hope you find some nice ones with weekend with the new GPX-4000. Rob Allison

Hello Montana, It was my understanding now after playing around with the machine here at home that you could "edit" the three pre-programmed settings. Those new settings would stay until you reset the detector back to the default settings. However, it would have been nice if Minelab would have allowed you to have (3) pre-programmed default settings and maybe 2-3 "empty" slots where you could store your own personal settings. Let me know if this sounds right with you. I will be out around Rich Hill this weekend with mine. Talk with you later, Rob Allison

Hello Ruff & Tuff, There is a huge difference between the X-Terra 70 and the SD2100. First off, the X-Terra 70 is really a coin/relic detector with a "gold prospecting" mode. The X-Terra series is the latest digital coin/relic detector released by Minelab. It has awesome discrimination and does fair in mineralized conditions, but can't be compared to the SD2100 when you're nugget hunting. The Minelab SD2100 is a Pulse Induction detector that is practically immune to even the worst mineralization. The SD2100 will get much more depth and run very smooth over some of the worst ground. However, the SD2100 doesn't have a discriminator, it's basically an "All-Metal" detector with no discrimination, so you must dig every target. You would be able to find coins and relics much deeper than the X-Terra, but the X-Terra could run through a very trashy area and "Cherry pick" the goodies and leave most of the iron rubbish behind. Hope this helps a bit, Rob Allison

Hello Dutchman, I'm guessing the Dutchman ='s - Earl! I will be out there Saturday for sure, Sunday is up in the air. Will be testing out the new Minelab GPX-4000 and doing some comparison tests against the GP3500. Surprised a 3.2 Dwt nugget is the biggest found so far in the pushes. Talk with you later, Rob Allison

Hello Bob, That morning you seen me I must have taken 50-60 small dozer fragments out of push 5. I can't believe people miss so many targets, but then again I didn't get any gold either. Working pushes is not my typical "Cup of Tea," but it is an easy method to pluck a nugget if you stick with it long enough. I prefer to work the virgin (non-dozed) areas in hopes for a small patch. You have any plans to return to Rich Hill in the near future? Talk with you soon, Rob Allison

Hello The Shadow, I've only used a Minelab detector a few times in an actual "Mine Shaft," but have used a metal detector in placer drifts many times with no trouble whatsoever. Like Doc mentioned, the early Minelab PI's were a major contributor when the 16:1 and many local pocket mines started to locate pockets that were missed my conventional location methods. I've heard of some small pockets being found in Arizona by the use of VLF/PI detectors in gold bearing mines. It's very possible to find something overlooked, but then again SAFETY is very important when you're playing around and chipping away at old mines walls and overheads. Some might ask, "is a small pocket worth risking your life over?" It might be worth spending a bit more time examining and hand-shorting through the actual tailing pile. It's amazing what the old-timers tossed out onto some of the piles. Best of luck to you, Rob Allison

Hello Bunk, Well regardless on how I answer your questions there will be some debate. So this is my answer - "In my opinion" I feel the GP3500 is a much better choice if you can justify the extra cash. The GP series detectors, especially the GP3500 will find much smaller gold, smaller gold at depth and even a slight increase in depth in moderate mineralization over the stock SD2100. I absolutely love my GP3500 and doubt I will ever sell it. On a flip side, if you can't afford the GP3500 and decide to go with the SD2100 there are options to increase performance. One of the first options would be to invest in a "regulated Li-Ion battery system." One of the hottest selling regulated systems is the Coiltek Pocket Rocket Battery System that I sell. It's the smaller and lightest Li-Ion system available on the market. With a regulated system you can increase the voltage to the searchcoil and create a stronger electromagnetic field that will give you better performance and better stability throughout the day. There are other more expensive mods for the SD2100 out of Australia also. Comparing a stock SD2100 vs. the GP3500 is like comparing Apples to Oranges "In my opinion!" Feel free to call or email me anytime. Hope to hear more questions from you here on the forums. P.S. Pictured below are just a few gold nuggets I missed with the SD2100 the first day out with the GP Extreme. Now, keep in mind the GP3500 is even more stable and has more features than the Extreme. Take care, Rob Allison

Hello Guys, Reno Chris - Unfortunately here in Arizona we don't have 1+ ounce nugget just laying around in the tailing piles for easy pickings! Hunting Alaskan tailing piles can spoil a nugget hunter, then they have to wake up and realize their back in the lower 48. I'm real excited about this new GPX-4000. I think with all the options you have to choose from it will make it a better nugget hunter than the previous GP detectors. Only time will tell, but have to think positive and give it some time to prove out. Once I get familar with the detector I have several places strickly for testing purposes that I haven't shown a sole. Flak - Funny, when I seen the Rattler it was towards the end of the day and I was a bit tired. My reaction speed was down, but it sure got my attention when I almost stepped right on of it! Funny, the Rattler didn't even buzz, even when I touched him with the coil he wanted nothing to do with me. His eyes were very "grayish," so I'm not sure if he was beginning to shed or what. Kind of strange .... Cop614 - Nope! If it's all possible I will not harm them. They are just doing their job, minding their own business. I just happened to cross his turf! When are you going to get your nugget? Take care, Rob Allison

Hello Gaine, Leaverite likes razzing me since I don't clean up my nuggets for the pictures. I just leave them dirty and toss them into small plastic bags. You have any plans to come out this winter season? Talk with you later, Rob Allison

Hello Uncle Ron, I just about stepped on that Rattlesnake. I was climbing up a small, rocky ravine and finally hit a flat spot on top. I stepped over the cactus and just got the glimpse of something next to my left foot. YIKES!!!! I actually jumped about 2-3 foot away and looked back and seen the Rattler. Yep, you're right about the density of the nuggets. A nugget that looks like a 2 Dwter can weight up to twice what you think at Rich Hill. I've pretty much figured out the weights since I found a good batch of them over the years, but it funny to see others guess the weights trying to compare the typical Bradshaw gold to them. Are you going to be out there Saturday? Push 2 might show some potential, but I'm sure it's going to be loaded with Minelab PI's. Talk with you later, Rob Allison

Hello Colorado Bob, It was nice to finally get to meet you in person! Did you happen to have any luck on the claims? I told you to bring your Goldbug! I normally like to hike around the hill so no one can figure out where I found the gold. Haha... Really, my legs, knees and back were sore as hell today. Just beat the skunk at the very end of the day. Looking foward to heading out your way this winter. Talk with you later, Rob Allison

Hello Bugler, I met so many people lately at Rich Hill. What is your name, or should I call you Bugler? I don't have a physical storefront. I'm an Internet/Mail Order dealer, but have everything in stock at all times. Your friend is more than welcome to call me anytime or stop by if he wants to see some in particular. I have a lot of products that aren't even listed on the website yet. Is he interested in a detector or accessories? I can also mail him some information if needed. Tell him to call me at (623) 362-1459 after like 4pm M-F or call my cell during the day at (602) 909-9008. This are hectic right now with the new GPX out, but I guess that is good! Talk with you later, Rob Allison

Hello Grubstake, The whole deal with the store is a long story and has a lot to do with jealousy if you ask me! One of my good friends stays over there and said it's a shame the store had to close down. It used to be easy for anyone staying at Stanton to run over and pick up items they need in a pinch. Talk with you later, Rob Allison

Hello All, Leaverite and I headed out to Rich Hill today to do some more hunting on the 24K Gold Hunters Claims. There was a bunch of hunters on the claims today and several gold nuggets were found. Glenn and Ralph both found nuggets in push 5 this morning. Both of the nuggets were around 1/2 Dwt apiece. I spent the majority of the time talking with club members and some new customers. The second part of the day Leaverite and I decided to give it one more attempt to find a nugget. After several hours of roaming around the hill and just before I decided to quit I hit a nice mellow signal on the slope of a hill. After scratching several inches of material off I uncovered a "V" shaped crevice in the Granite bedrock. Low and behold, deep in the crevice was a slug type nugget that weighed 3 Dwt's. I was using the Minelab GP3500 and Coiltek 14-inch Round Mono Searchcoil. Take a gander at the pictures below. I just about stepped on the Rattlesnake in picture one. Take care, Rob Allison

Hello JP and others, There seems to be some confusion about "battery regulation and onboard regulator" still from customers on the new GPX-4000. Is the new GPX-4000 equiped with an onboard regulator like the GP Extreme, GP3000 and GP3500? I wouldn't think Minelab would go back to a non-regulated GP after the previous three models have had onboard regulators. A person at Rich Hill today mentioned one of the dealers told him the new GPX-4000 was not regualted, so once the voltage of the battery started to drop you would loose detector performance. I would think the detector would have a 6v regulator, but the Li-Ion Batteries would charge up to max voltage (around 8.4-8.5) and would slowly drop along the 12 hour period. Li-Ion batteries seem to hold a high voltage and then take a fast drop at the end. Montana Bob - I experienced the EM Interference today at Rich Hill. It never fails, the second part of the day my detector gets noisy. This seems to happen at most of the places I hunt here in Arizona. Chris Gholson - Actually I don't have a GPX-4000. I will have my first shipment tomorrow (Monday) since i didn't pick them up at Gold Basin. I'm going to do some testing during the week at some nearby goldfields. I will let you know my findings. P.S. I just wanted to personally thank Jonathan Porter, Bob "Montana" Dansie, Chris Gholson, Steve Herschbach and others that are sharing information about the new GPX-4000. I'm excited to get my hands on one. Take care, Rob Allison

Hello Grubstake, I was out there today, but didn't stop in to find Jerry. I heard he is doing well now and out nugget hunting. I thought I might see him on the 24K claims today. I was out there with a bunch of other guys today and seen a couple of nuggets being found and I even plucked a 3 Dwt towards the end of the day. I've pretty much sold all (10) of the GPX-4000's that I have ordered if everyone comes through. I have another large batch on the way. P.S. Jerry is actually selling a bunch of stuff for me at Stanton. When you talk with Jerry, tell him his help is very much appreciated! Looks like it's going to be a great year thanks to you and your friends. Talk with you later, Rob Allison

Hello JP, Thanks for all the help you are sharing with us here. I have one question for you. Since the GPX-4000 is not regulated, do you see a drop in performance when the voltage gets down to 7.5 volts or lower? This was a problem with the SD series since they were not regulated. The SD's towards the second half of the day seems to get unstable and lost some audio, which would cause a loss in depth and sensitivity ultimately. Hopefully this is not the case with the new GPX. Talk with you soon, Rob Allison

Hello Montana, Thanks for the detailed information on the Li-Ion Battery. I'm hoping there will be some type of adapters for the aftermarket Li-Ion systems also, but not sure the Coiltek Pocket Rocket will work even with an adapter. I know the Coiltek Li-Ion System only puts out around 7.3 - 7.4 volts, and seen where the new Minelab GPX-4000 needs 8+ for initial start up I believe. (please correct me if I'm wrong) Bob, I'm sure you're out hitting some old spots today with the new detector. I'm hoping you do very well with the new machine. Will be waiting anxiously for your first report on the GPX-4000. However, I know you could find gold with a wooden detector and coconuts for headphones! Take care, Rob Allison

Hello Grubstake, Did you happen to get a picture of Brent's nugget? Maybe he will post it if you didn't get a picture. Talk with you later, Rob Allison

Hello Grubstake, Brent Skean is a great friend and customer. He purchased his Minelab GP3500 and a ton of coils/accessories from me in the past. Great to hear Brent scored a piece up in your patch. I know he also scored a nugget out of one of the pushes at Rich Hill. I'm hoping Brent will come back down so I can spend some quality time with him. At the pushes it was like a mad race to the gold! Take care, Rob Allison

Hello Reno Chris, I know there seems to be some confusion on what can be exactly done with the machine. If you follow all the forums it sounds like people are talking in riddles, but I believe it's the pure excitement of the machine being out!! I can't wait to get some hours on the new GPX-4000 and then get over some old gold patches and even some patches that are laced with nasty iron stones! If the new GPX-4000 can keep personal settings like JP mentioned I'm even more excited. Going to be slick to be able to save 2-3 prospecting settings and then even change them when needed. Take care, Rob Allison

Hello Steve, That is the way I was also understanding it, and we can only hope that is the case. It sounds like you can edit the three modes to the users desired choice. Since the "patch finding" default setting might not be the best patch finding setting for Alaska or Arizona. I'm hoping we can customize the settings to what we like, and then again change and re-save them when we want. This will make the GPX-4000 really stand out above the other detectors if this is how it will really work. I order six of the GPX-4000's and they are all pretty much accounted for. I have another four ordered and hoping the arrive soon! I know several guys that actually have them right now in Arizona, so I'm hoping to hear some more feedback before the weekend ends. Take care, Rob Allison

Hello Guys, I just breezed some of the most recent posts and seen where you guys are thinking the charger is built into the battery system. I seen on the battery specs where it says Then again it shows on our dealer price sheet where the AC Charger Plug-pack and 12v Car Charger Plug-pack can be purchased separately. Sure sounds like the charging system is built into the Li-Ion Battery System, and this would contribute to the larger housing size. Looking foward to getting my hands on one! Rob Allison

Hello Lamar, I know you were! Is your friend here in the US yet? Just curious when you want me to send the products to you? Talk with you later, Rob Allison