Okie Treasure Hunter has written a great post about the metal detectors role in treasure hunting. A metal detector is invaluable if you are hunting for coins or relics, but there are times when a metal detector won’t help you in finding the treasure. Take outlaw caches for example, they are likely to be buried at a depth of 1-4 feet, which would mean that a metal detector wouldn’t be the ideal choice of detector to use, depending on the ground conditions.
You would want to look at something along the lines of a good two-box or even a pulse induction unit. Now depending on the terrain you are hunting in, neither of these machines may be useful because the terrain may not allow you to use the detector at ground level.
And when it comes to hunting Spanish caches with a metal detector here’s something to consider:
If you are hunting Spanish caches then they usually liked to put their goodies in tunnels which can be anywhere from three feet to sixty feet or more in length.
If you have a tunnel that goes back into the hillside 30 feet then the depth of the cache from the surface can be the same or even more depending on the angle of the slope of the hillside and the angle of the tunnel. I have yet to find any detector that can penetrate thirty feet or more of dirt and rock.
His point with the article is that you really should think about what kind of treasure you plan to hunt before you go out and invest in a metal detector. Do your research on the different kinds of metal detectors out there. There are regular metal detectors, two-box units, magnetometers, ground penetrating radar, etc. If you want to hunt for old coins and relics at your local park or in a nearby ghosttown, invest in a metal detector! But if you want to hunt lost gold mines or buried Spanish caches, you might want to research other options. Here’s the best part of the article:
Metal detectors can be and for the most part are a fantastic help to treasure hunters however they can be like the fancy GPS units for your vehicle, they can make you real stupid real quick. You begin to rely on the detector to find the treasure instead of your own brain. Relying on technology is never a good thing. Using technology to your advantage is good but you should never try to cut corners with it. Learn to read the signs, do your research and be logical.
The people who left the signs and symbols behind didn’t have a GPS or a metal detector to get back to what they left. Think like the person who put the treasure in the ground, not like someone who makes popcorn in a microwave.
What are your thoughts on metal detectors and treasure hunting?
