Home >> Collecting >> Rock Collecting

How to Find Float Copper

The world's largest piece of float copper was found in Hancock, Michigan and weighs approximately 28 tons. Float copper was a pool of molten copper that came out of the earth thousands of years ago. Climate change brought glaciers and the glaciers pulled up the float copper and dragged it until the ice melted. The majority of the float copper found is in the Northern states and Canada. Normally small pieces are found lying on the ground or under the dirt using a metal detector. Float copper is 99% pure copper.

Things You'll Need

Metal detector
Mono coil
Scrap copper
Collapsible shovel
GPS device
Markers

Instructions

- 1
  Test the mono coil on your metal detector. The mono coil is designed to detect the magnetic fields on soft and ferrous metals. Unplug the cable then loosen the screw that holds the double coil head on your metal detector. Attach the mono coil and plug in the cable.
- 2
  Turn your detector on and test for a signal on the piece of scrap copper. Swing the arm back and forth in front of and around the piece. Double over the previous pass. When you swing over copper a distinctive beep will sound.
- 3
  Find float copper. In the field, begin near river beds and lakes. Glaciers carved swathes in the landscape that remain today. Float copper will be close to or on the surface of the ground. Look for tell-tale evidence of copper. Weathered copper will be the same green color as the Statute of Liberty.
- 4
  Stake your claim. Mark the area on your GPS device so that you can come back later. The piece of float copper may be too heavy to retrieve. Place a marker on a nearby tree or around the piece itself. Wash the copper in fresh water to remove dirt.

Rock Collecting