Prospecting Tips - Minelab SD2200V2 Instruction Manual

Instruction Manual Page 15
Each sweep should overlap the area covered by the previous sweep. This
will ensure a full coverage of the searched area. Be aware of the search
pattern of the coil and overlap your sweeps to take this into account .
7.2

Prospecting Tips

The SD2200v2 has superior ground balancing features and it is possible
to find quite large objects near the surface in well-worked areas simply
because other detectors have been unable to cope with the high degree of
mineralisation. In light of this, you should not ignore what can seem to be
'unlikely' responses. In other words, dig all signals, even in 'thrashed' areas.
Very large variations in the mineralisation of an area can produce a signal
in the detector. Typically, in the Victorian goldfields you might get a response
from a concentration of orange/reddish 'dyke' material or clay. Similarly, in
the loamy conditions of Western Australia a pocket of dark orange/reddish
clay or rock may produce a sudden signal variation.
It is not recommended that you try to ground balance the detector on top of
a signal, in an attempt to cancel a questionable response, as this can also
cancel weak signals from very deep targets. If in doubt scrape away some
soil above the suspect signal. If the signal gets stronger, it is a target, so
dig it!
If the ground is extremely variable and causes the detector to be very noisy,
you may try operating with the Channel switch set to the Channel 1 position.
This will reduce noises caused by the varying mineralisation, but some
nuggets may not be detected. The full range of nuggets are only detected
when the channel switch is set to the central B position, not in Channel 1
or Channel 2.
Charcoal can sound loud at times and rather like a metallic object when
close to the surface. Charcoal is usually created by bushfires or by farmers
burning off tree stumps. The charcoal may be below the ground level and
it is not always obvious until you have actually dug up and located the
cause of these noises a few times. Once the charcoal is removed from
the ground the signal will vanish.