Metal detecting is a hobby that is increasing in popularity. There are more families starting to get involved which is great. It means a fun day outdoors with the family, enjoying the sunshine and finding hidden treasures. When it comes to metal detecting, there are various pieces of equipment on the market that can help you. Hand held metal detectors are one of the most popular ways to search for metals. The easy to hold tool gives you an easy way to search and source metals whilst on the move. But how to metal detectors work? What makes them be able to identify metals underground?
What is a metal detector?
A hand held metal detector is a tool that you are able to use to search for metal that is impended in the ground or underground. They are typically a long handled tool where there is a circular plate at the bottom which sits just above the ground when searching. This plate is called the search coil.
There are different components that come together to create a metal detector. When they components are combined, they are able to identify metals in the search area.
How does a metal detector work?
A metal detector works by using electromagnetics. An electromagnetic field is transmitted from the search coil to the ground. If there are any metal objects within the search range, these will become energised and retransmit an electromagnetic field of their own.
The closer you are to the metal object, the stronger the electromagnetic field will be. This can help you to pin point the location of the metal objects.
How well can target objects be found?
One of the main things that will determine how well your metal detector finds metals is the frequency that it is set at. A single frequency detector that transmits at a high frequency will be more sensitive to small targets and a single frequency detector that transmits at low frequencies will give more depth on large target.
There are various metal detectors on the market, which have different frequency settings. Choosing which frequency to use will depend on factors including the locations you are searching and how far beneath the ground you want to search.
Another feature that can help with the targeting of objects is the ground balance.
Ground balance is a variable setting that increases the depth detection in mineralised ground. Difference minerals such as salt and fine iron particles can be picked up the same as different metals by the electromagnetic field. By varying your ground balance you can minimise these minerals being picked up. You are able to focus on objects that are beneath ground level, rather than those that are on the top.
There is also a discrimination option, where you can set your metal detector to ‘discriminate’ against various materials. This is especially useful if you are searching for one particle metal such as gold. You can set it so that it will not pick up other metals in the area.
How deep do metal detectors go?
This is a question that gets asked often. The answer? There is no one answer. There are many factors that come into play in determining how deep your metal detector will go.
The size of the search coil is the biggest part of telling how deep your detection will go. The larger the coil, the deeper the detection will be.
Other factors include the frequency, the type of detector you have and the target itself. The shape, size and orientation of the target under the ground can determine if it will be found or not. A small object at the same depth as a large object will still be harder to detect.
At Lucky Strike Gold, we want to help you to not only enjoy your hobby of metal detecting, but we also want you to be successful. That is why we are here to help and answer all your questions. Whether you are a novice or an old timer, we love giving advice and recommendations on which tools to use. Get in touch with the team today.