Gold - Minelab EQUINOX 600 Instruction Manual

Contents

Gold*

Best suited for gold nugget prospecting in mineralised goldfield locations.
Gold Mode* is for gold nugget prospecting. Generally, gold nuggets are found in remote goldfields where targets are more sparsely
located.
Gold Mode* uses a special audio that has a continuous sound, with more subtle variation than the other Detect Modes. This audio signal
begins when the coil first approaches the target and then continues until the coil moves away. During the detection period, the signal
volume and pitch vary proportionally to the strength of the target signal.
Gold Mode is ideally suited to finding smaller surface gold nuggets (and some larger deeper ones) that are present in mineralised ground.
Gold 1: Normal Ground
Gold 1 is suitable for searching for small gold
nuggets in 'mild' ground. Most goldfield locations
have a variable level of iron mineralisation that will require an
ongoing Ground Balance adjustment, therefore Tracking Ground
Balance is the default setting. Target Tone is set to 1 and the audio
is optimised for hunting for gold nuggets.
Gold 1 Multi-IQ processes a high frequency weighted multi-
frequency signal, while ground balancing for mineralised soil.
Gold Detecting Hotspots
The best places to go detecting for gold nuggets are
where gold has previously been found. Surrounding
areas with very similar geology are also worth
exploring. Many government mining agencies publish
maps of goldfields locations and offer advice on
obtaining relevant fossicking or hobby prospecting
licences.
Some specific areas for gold prospecting include
tailings from goldmine sites, old diggings from the
1800s, in (and near) streams where gold panning is
carried out, arid dry-blowing locations and old reef
mine dumps and slopes.
Gold 2: Difficult Ground
Gold 2 is best for searching for deeper gold nuggets
in 'difficult' ground conditions. Gold 2 has a lower
Recovery Speed, which will increase detection depth. However,
more ground noise in more heavily mineralised grounds may
result. Tracking Ground Balance is the default setting. Target Tone is
set to 1 and the audio is optimised for hunting for gold nuggets.
Gold 2 Multi-IQ processes a high frequency weighted multi-
frequency signal, while ground balancing for mineralised soil.
Difficult Areas - Hot Rocks
Typically Small
Gold Nuggets
Typically Hot Rocks
Target IDs 1 and 2 often indicate low
conductive small gold nuggets. Hot rocks
are generally found in the ferrous range.
Gold* | 26
'Hot' rocks are commonly found in gold
prospecting locations. These are rocks that
are mineralised differently to the
surrounding ground. A highly mineralised
rock buried in mildly mineralised ground
would be considered to be a hot rock.
Hot rocks can easily be mistaken for gold
nuggets. The Target ID can assist here, with
hot rocks typically having a negative Target
ID number and gold having a positive ID in
the very low conductive range.