Here’s a nice article that Michael from MetalDector.com was nice enough to share with me for everyone. Read more about metal detecting on their website. www.MetalDetector.com
Metal Detectors and Gold Mining
by Michael Bernzweig
Today, many people know that there are specific gold prospecting metal detectors used to locate nearly any size nugget. What many folks don’t know though is that metal detectors and gold prospecting go way back. Here to tell us more is Michael Bernzweig of MetalDetector.com
The first type of electromagnetic device used for gold prospecting was first used over 400 years ago! The dip needle, as it was called, was used to measure the earth’s magnetism and to find magnetic objects located underground. In fact, this type of device is even said to have been used by the Spanish to find gold and silver with great success. Although the dip needle itself didn’t necessarily locate the actual treasures, it could be used in prospecting to detect minerals related to gold thereby guiding the prospectors toward potential places to start digging.
For the longest time, this was all that gold prospectors had to tell them what might be underground aside from their own geological observations, and, of course, their pick ax! Then came metal detectors.
In the early 1800’s many different scientists were attempting to find a way to detect ore-bearing rocks from the surface since it would be so helpful to miners; and of course make them wealthy in the end as well! With this level of inspiration, it wasn’t long before the first crude metal detectors were created.
It was still quite awhile before the use of metal detectors in gold mining became widespread though. During the early years metal detectors relied on huge battery packs that lasted for only a few short hours, if that. The machines themselves were heavy and cumbersome as well making them difficult for miners to take out into the field. However, technology improved rapidly and in less than 100 years metal detectors were being used by gold miners of all kinds.
This rapid shift was due in large part to the invention of the transistor. Once the transistor was perfected in the late 1950s early 1960s, metal detector designers were able to create smaller, more effective machines that were easier to use. With this new technology gold mining got easier as well and more people were inspired to try their luck at finding some gold; and many were quite successful.
Fast forward to today and metal detectors are still leading people all over the world to gold nuggets large and small. Want to try your luck? Be sure to do your research to find the information you need about choosing the best gold prospecting metal detector for your nugget hunting adventures and more. Then, you’ll be ready to become a gold prospector yourself; and, quite likely, a very successful one with the help of your metal detector.
Biography
About the author: Michael Bernzweig manages MetalDetector.com in Southborough, MA. He has written on the subject of treasure hunting and metal detecting since the mid 1980’s. He enjoys traveling with his metal detector and helping to educate others in the correct use of metal detectors in their explorations.