Latest Nugget Detector Recommendations for Alaska

Hi Everyone,

Here is my latest "Nugget Detector Guide", updated April 2011 for some of the latest model information. Each model has a short description, followed by a very PERSONAL OPINION. Copyright 2002-2010 Herschbach Enterprises - Please do not reuse or repost without my express permission.

This is offered as a simple guide for those wanting a general comparison of the various nugget detectors available for use in Alaska, along with some kind of real opinion about them. That's all it is, folks, so take it or leave it for what it is worth. It's just that listing specs is of little help to people, and so I take my best stab at providing some guidance for those newer to detecting. These are only my opinions based on my experience in Alaska with various detectors over the years, and they should not be taken as applying anywhere outside Alaska. If you want Brazil, go to the Brazil Gold Forum!

Although many detectors sold today can potentially find gold nuggets, I've chosen to generally only list units that have a dedicated prospecting mode.

Please, if you own one of these detectors, and I call it like I see it, don't take offense. Any nugget detector made will find gold in capable hands, and the owner is far more important than the detector model. I'll put a good operator with ANY detector up against a novice with whatever is deemed "best" and bet on the experienced operator every time. The person using the detector finds the gold. The detector is actually the least important factor in nugget detecting success or failure.

I’ve listed the Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for each detector. In general, you can figure about 15% off these prices as “street price”. The detectors are listed in order by price.

A quick note to those who know nothing about these machines. These are metal detectors. There is no such thing as a "gold only" detector. These detectors will also find copper, aluminum, and other metals. These units are best used to look for relatively larger pieces of gold at relatively shallow depths. Concentrations of gold dust are not detectable. Some of these units can hit gold that weighs as little as a grain (480 grains per ounce) but only at an inch or two. Only the larger nuggets can be found at depths exceeding a foot. Only world class nuggets weighing many ounces can be detected at over two feet. The vast majority of nuggets found are found at inches, not feet.

So here you go:

Steve's Nugget Detector Guide For Alaska - Updated April 2011

White's GMZ (List $499.95, 50 kHz) - This new detector from White's offers 50 kHz gold sensitivity at a very low price. Designed for the beginner with ease of operation in mind, the GMZ is tuned with only two controls and one switch. The weight including eight AA batteries is 3.4 lbs. The stock coil is a 6" x 10" DD elliptical or 4" x 6" DD elliptical. The GMZ can use the existing Goldmaster series coils and so has two accessory coils available (White's and Jimmy Sierra).

Steve's Opinion - The GMZ sets a new low price point for a dedicated nugget detector at under $500 and also a new standard for ease of operation. The GMZ runs at 50 kHz and the GMT at 48 kHz so the two models do not interfere when used close to each other. But both models can share coils. The GMZ is rather unique in that it is designed to run silent (no threshold). The low price and extreme ease of operation should appeal to some people. The main thing lacking is any form of iron discrimination so with the GMZ you must dig all targets.


Garrett Scorpion Gold Stinger (List $549, 15 kHz) - The Garrett Gold Stinger is a manual ground balance unit based on the famous Garrett Groundhog circuit. The Stinger includes a full-range discrimination circuit for coin hunting. Literally like owning two detectors in one, the Gold Stinger is a good unit for someone who wants to coin hunt as much as nugget hunt. Weight including three 9V batteries 3.2 lbs. The stock coil is a 5" x 10" DD elliptical. One accessory coil is available for the Stinger.

Steve's Opinion - The Gold Stinger offers good entry level performance. It is interesting to note that newer detectors like the White's MXT are now going back towards the 15 kHz frequency that Garrett has used for so many years. One thing I really do not like about the unit is the battery replacement scheme. You must pull the circuit board out into the open to replace the batteries. It exposes the machine to potential damage and is more complicated than it should be. It also suffers from a real lack of accessory coils. The Gold Stinger actually has pretty good performance for its price and has some unique features, like its TR discrimination circuit. But I'm afraid the Stinger design is showing its age and it is way overdue for an update.


Fisher Gold Bug Special Edition (List $549, 19 kHz) - New for 2010! Not to be confused with the Gold Bug from the 1980's, this new model runs hotter than that old model, and offers full LCD target identification. The target id makes the Gold Bug Special Edition good for more than just nugget hunting, and it will no doubt find favor with jewelry and relic hunters. This unit comes with a 5" round DD coil to enhance the sensitivity to small gold. Weight including a single 9V battery is 2.5 lbs. One accessory coil is available for the Gold Bug SE. The Special Edition will be available for a limited time only.

Steve's Opinion - Now this is some bang for the buck! Light weight, sensitive, and full target identification. There is some question over just how long this "Special Edition" model will be available as it is no longer being made but for now it represents a true bargain for somebody interested in a versatile gold machine at a low price. The stock coil is a bit small for covering large areas, so this unit is intended more as a "sniper". But even if you add in the price of the 11" accessory coil the unit is still less than most. Note as of October 2010: I have now tried the new Gold Bug Pro (see below) and all I can say is it only goes to highlight what a great bargain the SE is at $499. There is hardly any difference between the two models and the SE is $150 less. Take advantage of this outstanding bargain while they last.


Fisher Gold Bug Pro (List $699, 19 kHz) - New for 2010! Not to be confused with the Gold Bug from the 1980's, this new model runs hotter than that old model, and offers full LCD target identification. The target id makes the Gold Bug Pro good for more than just nugget hunting, and it will no doubt find favor with jewelry and relic hunters. This unit comes with a 5" round DD coil to enhance the sensitivity to small gold. Weight including a single 9V battery is 2.5 lbs. One accessory coil is available for the Gold Bug Pro.

Steve's Opinion - Light weight, sensitive, and full target identification. There Pro appears to be the final version in this series. The stock coil is a bit small for covering large areas, so this unit is intended more as a "sniper". All in all a great little unit for someone wanting a good nugget detector that can be used for other things. Relic hunters in particular have been gettting very excited over the new Gold Bugs and their ability to pick non-ferrous targets out of thick ferrous trash.


Garrett AT Pro (List $699.95, 15 kHz) - New for 2011! A totally new concept in metal detecting from Garrett Electronics. This full featured detector has everything you would excpect from a dry land detector - LCD display, full control set and functions, speaker, interchangeable coils, and light weight. But it is submersible to 10 feet! Even the speaker is waterproof. Note that the unit itself may be submerged but if you want to put your head underwater you will need optional submersible headphones. Weight including a four AA batteries is 3.03 lbs. Three accessory coil is available for the AT Pro.

Steve's Opinion - I have wanted a detector like this for years!! Garrett has wowed me with the AT Pro. All the features of an above water detector and yet waterproof. Usually you are going to sacrifice a lot for an underwater machine. Limited control set, no display, no speaker, hardwired coil, hardwired headphones, heavy, and costly. For above water use the AT Pro has a full LCD display like most units these days. It weighs less that many dry land units. There are optional coils, a real rarity in underwater detectors. Garrett has above water and underwater headphones for the unit, but an optional adapter will let you use you old favorites. There is a speaker for above water use that can be safely submerged - a genuine first. And best of all, ground balancing 15 kHz operation. The only thing lacking is a threshold based all metal mode but there are so many pluses here I can forgive that. I have tested this unit with the 4.5" round coil and it is hot on gold. I have every confidence I can find gold nuggets with this detector, and it shot to the top of my list for jewelry detecting in fresh water lakes. Anyone thinking of nugget hunting in a creek with mask and snorkle had batter take a look at this detector. I have always wanted a machine that would let me notch out coins so I can concentrate on jewelry range targets. Wish I had had this machine when detecting in the pouring rain in the UK day after day. Well done Garrett. More this summer after the snow melts.


Tesoro Lobo Super TRAQ (List $799, 17.5 kHz) - Automatic ground balance and full-range discrimination make this one of the most versatile nugget detectors made. The Lobo is primarily a nugget detector, but is also suitable for coin and jewelry detecting. The automatic ground balance makes this detector easier to operate than manual ground balance detectors. Weight including eight AA batteries 3.5 lbs. The stock coil is a 5" x 10" DD elliptical. Eleven accessory coils are available for the Lobo.

Steve's Opinion - Until recently, the Lobo was the hands down winner in the versatility department. It is a very good nugget detector in a light weight package, combined with a basic but very capable coin detecting circuit. The discrimination mode is intended for coin detecting, but doubles as a good iron id nugget hunting mode, as long as the discrimination is not set too high (1.5-2). Newer detectors, like the White's MXT below, are now offering a very significant challenge to the Lobo, but it still wins points with me for its light, convertible design. The Lobo is one of few detectors left that can be hip or chest mounted and it has a superb selection of accessory coils. All in all the Lobo is an excellent and versatile nugget detector.


White’s Goldmaster GMT (List $799.95, 48 kHz) – The GMT has exceptional small gold capabilities with its high 48 kHz frequency. The GMT features automatic ground balance for ease of operation, and also has manual ground balance for those wishing full control of their detector. The GMT also has the most advanced iron discrimination system available in a dedicated nugget detector. Weight including eight AA batteries 3.9 lbs. Four accessory coils are available for the GMT (White's and Jimmy Sierra).

Steve's Opinion - Currently the best-selling nugget detector in Alaska. The GMT features both automatic or fully adjustable manual ground balance, your choice and a real plus on the GMT. One of the most common problems people have with detectors is in getting the ground balance right. There are also areas where wildly varying ground mineralization makes constant manual retuning a chore. The automatic ground balance on the GMT lets a beginner get up and running quickly. It offers the pro the ability to deal with rapidly varying ground. And yet for those times when you need manual ground balance to really tweak the detector, the GMT has it also. The GMT always tracks the ground conditions, even when in manual mode, and so while in manual adjusting the ground balance can be as simple as hitting the "Grab" button. The LCD based "iron probability" readout offers more subtle iron discrimination than the all or nothing audio id on other units. The GMT rivals the Gold Bug 2 on small gold, and clearly outperforms it for depth on larger gold in highly mineralized ground. If you are looking for a combination of excellent small gold capability combined with good depth on larger gold plus ease of operation the GMT is an excellent choice. It is the best selling nugget detector in Alaska for these reasons.


Minelab X-Terra 705 Gold (List $850, 3, 7.5, 18.75 kHz) – This new detector has a unique design feature. The standard unit comes with a 5" x 10" DD 18.75 kHz coil. Accessory coils are available not only at 18.75 kHz, but also at 3 kHz and 7.55 kHz. You can literally change the frequency of the detector by changing the coil! The X-Terra 705 has a large number of features and operating modes making it suitable for almost any type of metal detecting, be it for coins, jewelry, relics, or gold nuggets. Weight including four AA batteries 2.9 lbs. Seven accessory coils are available for the X-Terra 705.

Steve's Opinion - I like the new X-Terra 705 very much indeed. It is an update of the X-Terra 70. The 705 is a very viable alternative to the White's MXT for all around type detectors that are strong on gold. The MXT is more proven and has a better selection of coils available and so is the safe choice, but the X-Terra 705 bears consideration. It has a very powerful all-metal Prospecting Mode, and handles hot rocks and trash extremely well in its discrimination mode. Like the GMT above the X-Terra 705 offers both automatic and manual ground balance. I particularly like its very compact and lightweight design. The X-Terra 70 proved to be a capable prospecting machine and the 705 should fare even better.


White’s MXT Pro (List $899, 14.7 kHz) – The MXT series are general purpose detectors with a proven history of finding gold nuggets. The 14.7 kHz frequency makes it more sensitive to gold and jewelry than most coin detectors. What separates the MXT from many models listed here is its full-range target id circuitry with LCD readout. The new Pro model adds tone id and a meter backlight. This makes the MXT a superior coin, relic, and jewelry detector. Weight including eight AA batteries 4.3 lbs. The stock coil is a 12" round concentric. Sixteen accessory coils are available for the MXT (White's, Jimmy Sierra, EXcelerator, Sun-Ray).

The new MXT Pro was released in 2010, but the original MXT 950 is still available for a List Price of $799.95. It lacks the tone id and backlight and comes with the smaller 9.5" round coil.

Steve's Opinion - What can I say? The MXT has found many hundreds of ounces of gold at Ganes Creek, Alaska. The largest nugget I have found to date, a chunky 6.85 ouncer, I found with an MXT. It is the machine of choice at Ganes Creek for good reason. While not as hot on tiny gold as it's cousin, the GMT, the MXT actually is smoother operating in mixed hot rocks than the GMT, allowing faint signals from large, deep nuggets to be more easily discerned. For hunting hot ground (not Ganes Creek) the 6" x 10" DD coil is a better choice than the stock coil. Bottom line is if you want a safe choice in a general purpose (nuggets, coins, beach, relics, etc.) machine you need look no farther than the MXT.


Fisher Gold Bug 2 (List $899.99, 71 kHz) – The Gold Bug 2 is the highest frequency detector on the market, for extreme sensitivity to the smallest gold nuggets. In moderate to low mineral conditions, no detector will pick up a smaller nugget than the Gold Bug 2, especially if it is paired with its 6.5” accessory coil. The lightweight and tough hip mountable design is great for rough terrain. The Gold Bug 2 is a manual ground balance unit. Weight including two 9V batteries 2.9 lbs. The unit can be purchased stock with either the 10" elliptical coil or 6.5" elliptical coil, or both.Two accessory coils are available for the Gold Bug 2.

Steve's Opinion - The Gold Bug 2 has been a popular detector in the past for Anchorage area detecting. It has extreme sensitivity to small gold, a real plus on the Kenai Peninsula. I also feel it has the best physical design of any nugget detector on the market. Lightweight, tough, and convertible from rod mount to chest or hip mount. It's main drawback is that it gets poor depth on larger gold in mineralized ground. It is also a harder for beginners to learn than newer units with automatic ground balance. But if mastered and paired with the small 6" coil no detector will hit smaller gold. This makes the Gold Bug 2 the detector one might choose as an alternative to a gold pan when looking for places to use a highbanker or dredge. The Gold Bug 2 has a particularly effective "Iron ID" mode that not only rejects iron targets but many iron hot rocks.


Fisher F75 (List $1199, 13 kHz) - This relatively new detector is now the flagship of the Fisher lineup. It is a true multi-purpose machine well suited for prospecting. The F75 has a discrimination mode plus a motion all-metal and static all-metal mode. Its outstanding feature is an extremely fast response time, perhaps the fastest on the market. The weight including four AA batteries is 3.5 lbs. The F75 comes stock with an 11" DD elliptical coil. There are four accessory coils available (Fisher and Detech). The new Special Edition version adds two new hunting modes and comes with two coils for a list price of $1449.00.

Steve's Opinion - The F75 is a detector I’ve had my eye on for some time. It has great potential as a prospecting machine and I’ve had a chance now to work with one a bit. The unit has several things going for it. First, it is light in weight and superbly balanced. The unit has a well deserved reputation for being able to pull targets out of thick ferrous trash as it has an extremely fast response time. The unit is much hotter than one would expect for a detector running at 13 kHz and when paired up with the little 6” elliptical coil it can hit some very small gold. It was able to handle hot rocks at Moore Creek well and punched deeper on large nuggets than the Gold Bug 2. For just prospecting there are less expensive units that will do the job. But if you want a multi-purpose machine that would also be a very capable prospecting detector then the F75 is definitely worth consideration. One place I think the F75 would do well at is Ganes Creek due to its ability to handle ferrous trash and good depth on large gold. It is well suited for long hours of relatively fast swinging.


Minelab Eureka Gold (List $1250, 6.4, 20, 60 kHz) – This is the only nugget detector that allows you to change frequencies with the flick of a switch; 6.4, 20, and 60 kHz, all using the same coil, unlike the X-Terra units. This makes the Eureka Gold one of the most versatile VLF detectors available for handling different ground conditions. The 20 kHz mode is used for most detecting for great all-around performance. The 60 kHz mode is used in low mineral soil looking for extra small nuggets. The 6.4 kHz mode is used in extreme mineralized soil that would overwhelm most VLF detectors. The Eureka Gold is a good choice for someone hunting areas with widely varying mineral conditions. Weight including rechargeable battery pack 5.3 lbs. It comes stock with a 5" x 10" eeliptical DD coil. One accessory coil is available for the Eureka (Coiltek).

Steve's Opinion - The Eureka Gold with its three selectable frequencies will handle a wider range of ground conditions than most other VLF detectors. For a 60 kHz detector, it for some reason lacks the edge of the Gold Bug 2 or GMT when it comes to the smallest nuggets, especially since no small coil is available for it. Its best setting is the 20 kHz mode, as the detector seems optimized for this frequency. You will lose significant depth in the 60 kHz mode and so this mode should only be used for small shallow gold. The Eureka is a good choice for large nuggets in more mineralized ground, but for small gold less expensive detectors will meet or exceed its performance.


Garrett Infinium LS (List $1250, Pulse) – This Pulse Induction unit almost totally ignores ground mineralization and most hot rocks. While not as sensitive to small gold as VLF detectors, the Infinium will operate smoothly in areas where regular detectors are ineffective. An added plus is that the unit is totally waterproof, and can be totally submerged when used with the optional underwater headphones. Weight including rechargeable battery pack 5.6 lbs. The stock coil is a 14" DD elliptical. Seven accessory coils are available for the Infinium (Garrett and Westcoil).

Steve's Opinion - I like the Infinium, and bought the first production machine in Alaska. There are some areas in Alaska where hot rocks drive VLF detectors nuts. Petersville north of Anchorage is the best example. Graphite hot rocks are so thick as to make detecting with VLF detectors a real challenge. The Infinium totally ignores those rocks and will see gold through them. The Infinium will help in any areas where hot rocks present a real problem. The real selling point on the Infinium is that it is waterproof, and with optional underwater headphones can be totally submerged. This makes it the machine to have for working in and around water.

But it is important to note the Infinium is a pulse induction (PI) unit, like the White's TDI and Minelabs below. This means it has rudimentary discrimination compared to VLF units. It is best to view PI units as all-metal, dig-it-all detectors. They do have some limited discrimination capability, but it is not why you get a PI unit. Depth in mineralized ground and an ability to ignore hot rocks are the selling points. In addition, PI units have poor sensitivity to small gold compared to VLF units, and so someone with less expensive VLF unit can run circles around someone with a PI unit at locations like Crow Creek Mine or Mills Creek, Alaska. I tend to consider PI units as elephant hunting guns, best used when larger nuggets are known to be lurking in an area.


White's Spectra V3i (List $1499.95, 2.5 kHz, 7.5 kHz & 22 kHz) – The V3i is White's flagship unit. Coins, jewelry, relics, beach hunting, prospecting, the V3i does it all. Every possible tuning variable can be custom programmed and multiple programs saved. And although this means the V3i can be complex it comes with several preset programs that can get anyone up and running immediately, including a Prospecting mode. Unique in the Vi3 is the ability to run in either the 2.5 kHz mode, 7.5 kHz mode or 22 kHz mode or all at the same time. Weight including rechargeable battery pack 4.0 lbs. The stock coil is a 12" DD round. It shares the same coil collection as the MXT and so there are sixteen accessory coils available. For List $1799.95 the unit also includes wireless headphones!

Steve's Opinion - The V3i has a dedicated Prospecting Mode and can be run at a relatively hot 22 kHz. Because it costs more, many people assume it must be even better than the MXT for prospecting. That, however, is not the case. The V3i was designed first and foremost as an extremely powerful coin detecting machine. The MXT is based on the GMT circuit therefore has a superior ground tracking system. The bottom line is the V3i is a fantastic piece of technology, but the vast majority of the features you are paying for are not needed for nugget detecting. That said, the V3i can certainly find gold nuggets. I have one myself and due to its coil selection and sophisticated discrimination system I consider it to be a superb detector for jewelry detecting. For somebody really wants mostly to coin or jewelry detect and but rarely intends to prospect the V3i could be a good choice. But if prospecting is going to be one of the main goals then the MXT or some of the other detectors mentioned here will serve better for less money.


White's PulseScan TDI Pro (List $1699.95, Pulse) – This new unit from White's Electronics is based on a design by Eric Foster, the father of pulse induction detector. Nugget detecting was a main focus of its design although it has other uses as well. The control box may be rod, hip, or chest mounted. Weight including battery is 5.6 lbs. It uses industry standard coils. The TDI comes stock with a 12" round dual field coil. Over 100 accessory coils are available for the PulseScan TDI (White's, Minelab, Coiltek, Nuggetfinder)! And more coils are being released every year.

Steve's Opinion - This is your bang for the buck for a PI prospecting machine. The next better unit costs $3895 more. Results from Moore Creek and the Fortymile country have been encouraging. The TDI has a unique set of features and performance at a very reasonable price point. The fact that it is compatible with the large base of existing PI propecting coils is a huge plus for a brand new machine, as lack of coils is usually a limiting factor. The TDI has some discrimination capability that, although limited by VLF standards, makes it unique among PI detectors. I have a TDI that I use a lot for more than prospecting due to its exceptional resistance to electrical interference. It can be used in urban areas where other ground balancing PI detectors run into interference problems, so I find that it is the first PI detector I've owned that I can use for nugget detecting, beach/wader detecting, and coin detecting.


Minelab GPX-5000 (List $6995, Pulse) – The big gun for big nugget hunting! This Pulse Induction (PI) unit essentially ignores ground mineralization and most hot rocks. The GPX-5000 is designed specifically for nugget detecting, unlike other PI units on the market, and so it has many adjustments for mineralized ground not available on other PI detectors. The GPX-5000 has made a break from previous Minelab models in the series by going to a digital tuning system that allows for even more ability to tune the machine for varying conditions. The extra large accessory coils will penetrate deeper on large nuggets than any other nugget detector currently available. This is the detector for the serious nugget hunter. If maximum depth of detection on large gold nuggets is your goal, the GPX-5000 is for you. Minelab has also enhanced the small gold ability of the GP series to the point that the GPX-5000 will rival some VLF detectors for small gold ability, especially in the hottest mineralized ground where VLF detectors suffer performance problems. Over 100 accessory coils are available for the GPX-5000 (Minelab, Coiltek, Nuggetfinder)! And more coils are being released every year. Minelab also markets two slightly less expensive models, the GPX 4800 (List $6295) and GPX 4500 (List $5595).

Steve's Opinion - It is simple. If getting the most possible depth on multi-ounce gold nuggets is what you want, then the Minelab GPX detectors are the standard to beat. These are the detectors of choice for professional nugget hunters, and many recreational hunters worldwide. A big caveat, however. In many Alaska gold fields, with low mineralization, high trash, and small gold, a good VLF detector may actually do as well or better than a PI unit for far less money. For this reason you will not see as many of these units in Southcentral Alaska as you might elsewhere in the world. But for many locations in Alaska with more mineralization this is the machine to have. The vast majority of hundreds of ounces of gold from Moore Creek, Alaska, has been found with Minelabs.

So what am I using to chase gold these days? I've pretty much whittled it down to two detectors - the Minelab GPX-5000 and Fisher Gold Bug 2. The GPX is the big gun and the unit I'm most likely to use when chasing those gold nuggets. But for areas where the gold is tiny, then I'll be using the Gold Bug 2. The two together will find virtually all the gold that can be found with a metal detector. Although I use the Gold Bug 2 I am exceptionally proficient with it, and for many people I actually recommend the White's GMT instead for its ease of use. The Gold Bug 2 takes some work to master.

So there you are. Hopefully this helps some people out there. Post here if you have any specific questions I can help with.

Sincerely,

Steve Herschbach Steve's Mining Journal
Copyright 2002-2010 Herschbach Enterprises - Please do not reuse or repost without my express permission.