FlakMagnet

Doc you don't jump into things with one foot, I gotta hand that to you.

Your online stealth is much appreciated, thanks for looking out for me...

Dear Uncle Roy, my name is not Martin lol…hope all is well.

I live in southern California. The nearest desert area that is open for detecting is a 285 mile round trip and I have gone there for almost 15 years on and off. It’s not a place where big gold is found, in fact it’s known for very small gold. What it also has is tons of hot rocks and weird mineralization so it's a great area for sharpening your skills if you are interested in that sort of thing, and I am. During this insane time we are all sharing I am occasionally able to get out and spend a day detecting while honing my social distancing skills. I never see anyone except the quad riders who never notice me standing on the hillside in plain sight. It’s kind of funny. The specific area I go to has been literally hunted to death and now it has become a shooting range for guys who like to just open up with AR’s into the hillsides. I’ve picked up a fortune in lead. Originally the old timers built a small town there and over the last few decades various clubs have staked claims and hundreds of people with all manner of detectors have combed the hillsides. These days if you find a flake or two and don’t go mad being fooled by tiny shards of lead you are on your game. One evening I was goofing around on Google Maps and I started looking at the ground around this place. I had been reading how extending the area where gold has been found sometimes leads to more finds. When I spotted a near-by similar looking area I thought ‘what the heck’ and the next time I went out I tried it. Imagine my surprise when I almost immediately starting finding the same kind of small gold. I have gone out 7 or 8 times now and each time I have found enough to keep me going back. Now, because I have flogged the first new area, a couple of days ago I spotted another near-by area and again I thought ‘what the heck.’ My third signal was gold. Who knows how long these little areas will last but it’s been a fun experiment and it pays for gas. The largest flake is 1.08 dwt (sorry can’t think in grams). The total amount is 11.25 dwt. This is obviously not trying to impress anyone, but sharing experiences especially when so many of us are not able to get out, is fun, and besides, you have a captive audience. Be well and stay positive.

What?

Another thing I didn't know: This virus only has cell receptors for lung cells (it only infects your lungs) The only way for the virus to infect you is through your nose or mouth via your hands or an infected cough or sneeze onto or into your nose or mouth.

Hope this is informative:( I have edited this because I inadvertently included some unproven statements…apologies) From a member of the Stanford Hospital Board. This is their feedback (for now) on Corona virus: The new Coronavirus may not show sign of infection for many days. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT - CORONAVIRUS -- 1. If you have a runny nose and sputum, you have a common cold 2. Coronavirus pneumonia is a dry cough with no runny nose. 3. This new virus is not heat-resistant and will be killed by a temperature of just 26/27 degrees. It hates the sun. 4. If someone sneezes with it, it takes about 10 feet before it drops to the ground and is no longer airborne. 5. If it drops on a metal surface it will live for at least 12 hours - so if you come into contact with any metal surface - wash your hands as soon as you can with a bacterial soap. 6. On fabric it can survive for 6-12 hours. normal laundry detergent will kill it. 7. Drinking warm water is effective for all viruses. Try not to drink liquids with ice. 8. Wash your hands frequently as the virus can only live on your hands for 5-10 minutes, but - a lot can happen during that time - you can rub your eyes, pick your nose unwittingly and so on. 9. You should also gargle as a prevention. A simple solution of salt in warm water will suffice. 10. Can’t emphasis enough - drink plenty of water! THE SYMPTOMS 1. It will first infect the throat, so you’ll have a sore throat lasting 3/4 days 2. The virus then blends into a nasal fluid that enters the trachea and then the lungs, causing pneumonia. This takes about 5/6 days further. 3. With the pneumonia comes high fever and difficulty in breathing. 4. The nasal congestion is not like the normal kind. You feel like you’re drowning. It’s imperative you then seek immediate medical attention. 17 17

Nothing for a GPZ?…

(It must be a nice problem to have Rob) The SteelPhase is good as many of us have said and if you are hard of hearing, it's even better. Hope you all have Happy Holidays.

Very inspirational Walker, hope it keeps going.

Hi Fred, So understanding that we are all different, I have found that using Filter #1 and Mode #2 (which is best for stereo headphones), that the signal's I get are "brighter" and "crisper" from the Steel Phase than what I was using before. What I do is tune the 7000 without the Steel Phase turned on. After the GPZ is tuned I turn the unit on, turn up it's volume pretty high (8), but then make sure my threshold at that volume is comfortable and just audible enough where I hear it's variations but it's not going to give me noise fatigue. Where I usually hunt has very small gold. You have to be tuned well as it's been gone over by hundreds of very good detectorists. I have found very small bits at depths that I feel most detectors must have missed because there is so much evidence of activity all around me. Anyway, not sure all that makes sense. As I originally said, I also like the B&Z. Used it for years and years but, for me, I just respond to the way the Steel Phase seems to sound in conjunction with the GPZ. Hope you are doing well and am sending you best wishes...

Rob how fun it is to hear that your daughter accompanied you. True gold there. I have to say that I have never seen anyone get more good-sized gold over these last ten years than you. Good hunting.

I'll jump in here to agree with Rob. The Steel Phase is the best enhancer/booster I have ever used. It is pretty much apparent the minute you turn it on and use it. I used a B&Z for years, it's a great booster as well but right now I have it as a back-up; my first choice is Steel Phase.

Big Sur? What were you prospecting for up there?

no price? that seems kind of silly.