Uncover Buried Treasures with the Right Coil Size: Tips from Professional Treasure Hunters
Coil size is a crucial factor to consider when it comes to relic hunting and treasure hunting. The right coil size can greatly impact your success in finding buried treasures, as well as the overall performance and efficiency of your metal detector. In this article, we will explore various aspects of coil size considerations for relic hunting and provide valuable insights from professional treasure hunters.
1. Coil Size Considerations for Relic Hunting:
Relic hunting involves searching for historical artifacts, coins, or other valuable items that have been left behind over time. When selecting a coil size for relic hunting, there are several factors to keep in mind:
a) Target Size: The size of the relics you are aiming to find should influence your choice of coil size. For larger relics like cannons or musket balls, a larger search coil (around 11-15 inches) would be more suitable. Smaller relics such as buttons or coins may require a smaller search coil (around 6-9 inches) for better target separation.
b) Ground Coverage: A larger search coil allows you to cover more ground with each sweep, which can be advantageous when searching vast areas like fields or old battlefields. However, if you are searching in dense forests or narrow spaces where maneuverability is limited, a smaller search coil may be more practical.
c) Sensitivity: Smaller coils tend to offer higher sensitivity compared to their larger counterparts since they focus on a smaller area and can detect smaller targets with greater precision.
d) Depth Range: Larger coils generally provide greater depth penetration but might sacrifice some sensitivity compared to smaller coils. If you are primarily interested in finding deeper relics buried beneath the surface, opting for a larger search coil could benefit your efforts.
2. Coil Size Preferences Among Professional Treasure Hunters:
Professional treasure hunters often have their own preferences when it comes to choosing the ideal coil size based on their specific needs and experiences. Here are some insights from seasoned professionals:
a) Matt Johnson, an experienced treasure hunter, suggests that a 10-12 inch search coil is suitable for most relic hunting scenarios. He believes this size strikes a good balance between ground coverage and target separation.
b) Gary Drayton, renowned for his metal detecting expertise on the TV show “The Curse of Oak Island,” prefers using smaller coils (around 6-8 inches) when searching in highly mineralized soil or areas with heavy trash.
c) Steve Moore, another professional treasure hunter, emphasizes the importance of having multiple coil sizes to cater to different situations. He recommends having both larger and smaller coils to adapt to various environments and maximize your chances of finding valuable relics.
3. Balancing Weight and Performance with Coil Size Choice:
Another crucial consideration when selecting a coil size is finding the right balance between weight and performance. Larger coils tend to be heavier than their smaller counterparts due to the additional materials required for construction. While they offer greater depth penetration, they can also cause fatigue over extended periods of use.
If you prioritize comfort during long relic hunting sessions or have physical limitations that require a lighter setup, opting for a smaller search coil might be more appropriate. However, keep in mind that sacrificing depth range may result in missed opportunities for finding deeply buried relics.
4. Understanding the Relationship Between Coil Size and Ground Mineralization:
Ground mineralization refers to naturally occurring minerals present in the soil that can interfere with metal detection signals. Different types of soils exhibit varying levels of mineralization, which can impact your choice of coil size.
In high mineralization areas such as saltwater beaches or goldfields rich in iron content, larger coils are often preferred due to their improved ability to handle challenging ground conditions. These coils provide better depth penetration while minimizing false signals caused by mineral interference.
Conversely, if you primarily hunt in low mineralization areas like clean sandy beaches or parks with minimal iron content in the soil, smaller coils can offer superior target separation and sensitivity. They are less affected by ground mineralization, allowing for more precise detection of small relics or coins.
5. Coil Selection Based on Desired Search Depth Range:
The desired search depth range plays a crucial role in determining the appropriate coil size for relic hunting. Different coils have varying levels of depth penetration capabilities, and selecting the right one can significantly impact your success rate.
For shallow targets located near the surface, such as recent drop coins or modern artifacts, smaller coils (around 6-8 inches) are generally sufficient. These coils excel at detecting targets within this depth range with high accuracy.
However, if you’re targeting deeper relics that may be buried several inches beneath the surface, larger coils (10-15 inches) are more suitable. Their increased coverage area and enhanced depth penetration allow for effective detection of buried treasures.
It is essential to consider your local area’s historical context when determining the typical burial depths of relics to ensure you choose a coil that aligns with your search objectives.
6. Customizing Coil Sizes for Specialized Metal Detecting Purposes:
In some cases, specialized metal detecting purposes may require customized coil sizes tailored to specific needs:
a) Gold Prospecting: When searching for gold nuggets in highly mineralized soil conditions commonly found in goldfields or riverbeds, specialized small elliptical-shaped coils (4-7 inches) are often preferred due to their improved sensitivity to small gold particles.
b) Coin Shooting: If your primary objective is coin shooting in parks or other recreational areas where trash density might be high, using a smaller concentric coil (6-9 inches) can help provide better target separation among close proximity objects like pull-tabs and bottle caps.
c) Relic Hunting in Dense Vegetation: When searching through dense vegetation like forests or overgrown areas where maneuverability is limited, smaller-sized elliptical-shaped coils (6-9 inches) can help navigate through tight spaces and effectively detect relics hidden beneath vegetation.
7. Evaluating the Impact of Different Soil Conditions on Optimal Coil Sizes:
Soil conditions can vary significantly from one location to another, influencing the performance of different coil sizes. It is crucial to evaluate these soil conditions and their impact on target detection to make an informed decision about which coil size is best suited for your particular hunting grounds.
a) Highly Mineralized Soil: As mentioned earlier, highly mineralized soil poses challenges for metal detecting due to increased ground interference. In such situations, larger coils are often recommended as they provide better depth penetration while compensating for signal loss caused by mineralization.
b) Wet or Saltwater Environments: When searching in wet sand or saltwater beaches, using specially designed waterproof search coils is essential. These coils are typically available in various sizes but tend to be smaller (6-10 inches) due to their improved sensitivity in detecting small targets under challenging conditions.
c) Trashy Areas: If you frequently hunt in areas with high trash density like old homesteads or campgrounds, opting for a smaller concentric coil (6-9 inches) can help you separate valuable targets from unwanted iron debris more effectively.
8. Factors to Consider When Switching Between Large and Small Coils During a Hunt:
While some treasure hunters prefer sticking with one coil size throughout their entire hunt, others may benefit from switching between large and small coils based on specific circumstances:
a) Target Density: If you encounter a location with multiple potential targets close together, using a smaller coil allows for better target separation and more precise identification of individual items among cluttered areas.
b) Depth Range Variation: Adjusting your coil size during a hunt allows you to explore different depth ranges. Starting with a larger search coil helps cover large areas quickly before switching to a smaller one when targeting specific depths where relics might be buried.
c) Ground Conditions: Changing soil conditions, such as transitioning from mineralized to low mineralization areas, might require switching between large and small coils. Adapting your coil size ensures optimal performance and minimizes false signals caused by varying ground interference.
9. Tips for Maximizing the Potential of Your Chosen Coil Size:
Once you have selected the ideal coil size for relic hunting based on your specific requirements, there are several tips to help maximize its potential:
a) Sweep Overlapping: Ensure proper overlapping of each sweep while covering an area to avoid missing targets due to incomplete coverage.
b) Keep Your Coil Parallel to the Ground: Maintaining a parallel position between your search coil and the ground surface allows for consistent target detection capabilities and accurate depth readings.
c) Adjust Sensitivity Settings: Experiment with sensitivity settings on your metal detector to find the optimal balance that suits both your chosen coil size and local ground conditions.
d) Practice Proper Swing Techniques: Develop a smooth swinging motion with controlled speed while keeping the search coil close to the ground. This technique enhances target detection accuracy and reduces fatigue during long hunts.
e) Stay Patient and Persistent: Relic hunting can be a time-consuming process, so maintaining patience and persistence is crucial. Continue exploring different areas using various swing patterns until you locate promising targets.
In conclusion, selecting the right coil size plays a significant role in maximizing success rates in relic hunting. By considering factors such as target size, ground coverage, sensitivity requirements, desired depth range, soil conditions, and specialized purposes, treasure hunters can make informed decisions about which coil sizes best suit their needs. Remember to experiment with different coils over time while implementing effective metal detecting techniques to enhance your overall success as a relic hunter.