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How to Read a Gold Detector

One of the best ways to be successful at digging up some gold with your metal detector is by familiarizing yourself with your machine. The best place to start is in your own backyard. Once you learn how to read your gold detector with consistent results you can search for gold out in the field with confidence.

Things You'll Need

Piece of iron
Bottle cap
Piece of aluminum
Piece of gold jewelry
Piece of silver jewelry

Instructions

- 1
  Set your detector to "all metal" mode so you can detect each one of your items without discrimination.
- 2
  Lay out your iron piece, gold jewelry, silver jewelry, bottle cap and piece of aluminum a few feet apart on a metal-free surface. Wave your detector slowly over each piece. Carefully watch your metal detector&'s digital readout or meter reading to know how each metal registers.
- 3
  Listen to your detector. Your metal detector will make a slightly different tone for each type of material that is registering.
- 4
  Grab your piece of gold jewelry and place it together with each type of metal item individually. Using this combination method will let you read the differences in your meter readouts and bell tones when gold is next to different types of materials.

Rocks & Minerals