How to Detect Deeper Targets with Your Metal Detector?

As you know, metal detecting has always been an exciting activity. But what could be more exciting than that? Of course, some challenging tasks. Like the metals buried deep down, which are more difficult to find. These burials cannot be found easily due to depth limitations.

Many types of old coins, treasures, and historical artifacts are buried underground. Over time, these artifacts have been buried as a result of soil corrosion, accumulation, and human activity. That’s why detection of these under-depth materials has become more thrilling.

It is also important to find these kinds of old buried materials. Because it belongs to historical significance and unique discoveries. You can explore more knowledge about old civilizations and cultures. What type of coins were common at that time? Moreover, you will gain more experience in the field of detection as well.

Understanding Depth Detection in Metal Detectors

Firstly, you should know about the depth detection techniques in a detector. Likely the factors that can affect the detection.

Factors Affecting Depth Detection:

Soil Mineralization & Ground Conditions are common

1. Highly mineralized soil can cause a hurdle in the detector’s signals.

2. Dry soil can limit the detection.

3. Wet soil can increase the chance of deeper search.

Target size, shape, and material:

Choose your objective as well. Because larger metals, such as silver and gold, can occasionally be more conductive when buried deeper. Small, less conductive metals, on the other hand, are not as deep.

Frequency and sensitivity settings:

Frequency adjustment is very important because low frequency can go deeper, but it has a chance to miss small objects. While high frequency can cause repeated false signals. It is better to go from low to high slowly.

Coil Size & Type:

Coil size selection becomes crucial sometimes. Because large coils can cover large areas and search at depth, they are less sensitive towards smaller objects. Smaller coils are sensitive for even smaller objects but may require more time to cover large areas.

Choosing the Right Metal Detector for Depth

After understanding the factors. It’s now time to find out the best metal detector for depth. Here we are giving some comparisons and recommendations as well:

Low-Frequency vs. High-Frequency Detectors:

Depth Sensitivity: High frequency detectors can detect deeper in ground while low frequency detectors perform relatively low at depth detection.
Usage: Detectors with high frequency are used for large, deep-down conductive metals like gold and silver. While low frequency detectors for small, shallow and less conductive metals like pure gold.
Target sensitivity: High frequency detectors are highly sensitive for large metals and less towards small ones. While low frequency detectors are highly sensitive for small chunks and metals and less sensitive towards large metals.

PI (Pulse Induction) vs. VLF (Very Low Frequency) Detectors:

Depth Sensitivity: Pulse Induction (PI) is highly sensitive for large, deeper targets. While VLF is Ideal for coin and relic hunting, moderate depth.
Discrimination: PI is poor in distinguishing the metals. And VLF is good at discriminating against metals.
Ground Condition: PI works well in mineralized and salty soil. While VLF struggles to work with mineralized soil, it needs some ground balancing.
Battery Life: PI is higher in power consumption. And VLF consumes less power, hence saves battery life.
Usage: PI can be used at beaches, for gold and relic hunting. While VLF is best for historical sites, parks where there is a density of trash.
Cost: PI is high in price due to its capacity to detect in-depth. While VLF is affordable for beginners

Recommended Detectors for Depth:

Minelab Equinox: The detector has multiple settings for frequencies. So it can work in different terrains. You can adjust frequency for different depths with high sensitivity.
Garrett ATX: It’s an outstanding detector. Detecting deep targets in mineralized soil. Best for experienced hunters.
XP Deus: Best for long hours of use containing VLF technology. Lightweight. Detecting deeply with highly discriminative quality.

Optimizing Your Metal Detector Settings

There are some suggestions on how to increase the metal detector depth?

Sensitivity Settings: Don’t go at a higher frequency at first. Because higher may produce false signals. Select between 70 to 90 percent of the frequency. Raise until instability happens, then reduce a little.
Ground Balance: A stable ground balance will enhance the accuracy and depth sensitivity. Also, you can minimize the false signals as well. Observe the mineralization of soil. Then set accordingly. Like for highly mineralized soil, adjust between 70-85.
Discrimination Settings: The main purpose is to discriminate the trash from valuable items. So don’t go for higher settings, just in between 5 and 20. Because higher discrimination can cause the elimination of valuable items too.
Frequency Adjustments: Choosing the right frequency for your hunting environment is very crucial. Higher frequencies are sensitive to smaller objects but have less depth than lower frequencies, which are better suited for large, conductive targets because they penetrate deeper. For deep objects, use frequencies of 5–15 kHz; for small targets, such as gold, use frequencies of 20+ kHz.

Selecting the Right Search Coil

Coil Size:

Small coils: Highly sensitive for smaller objects and improved control.
Large coils: Detected at higher depth but less sensitive to small objects.

Coil Shape:

Concentric: Because it fully utilizes both transmit and receive coils, a concentric coil is an extremely effective metal detector for deep targets; however, in highly mineralized soil, its performance may decline.
Double- D coil: Particularly in mineralized soil, a Double-D coil enhances depth, stability, and ground coverage, enabling deeper detection with less overlap.
Coil Compatibility: Make sure the coil you are having or going to buy is compatible with your detector. Because some series launch their coils. Be sure first.

Techniques for Detecting Deeper Targets

Here are some deep target metal detecting tips:

Slow and Steady Sweeping: If you sweep slowly, the detector can get more time to detect properly. Because it takes some time to fetch the signals from the ground. Only the faint signals can give you some hint. Actually, 2-3 seconds per pass is enough.
Proper Swing Height: Keep the coil close to the ground. Raising the height will reduce the depth detection. Maintain a coil height of 1-2 cm (0.5 inches) above the ground; increasing it by 2.5 cm (1 inch) can result in a 10% or greater reduction in depth.
Grid Searching: Divide your target areas into sections. The systematic search one by one and overlapping the sweeping will help to get the target. In this way, no valuable item would be missed deep down.
Listening for Faint Signals: Training your ear to recognize subtle, deep target signals. Because these faint signals are indicating deep, small targets.

Using Accessories to Enhance Depth Detection

Headphones: High-quality headphones will help you hear even the faint signals by eliminating the noise. Audio clarity. Plus, it gets you to notice a slight change in the tone that indicates a valuable target.
Shaft Stabilizers: It can help in keeping the coil at a stable height from the ground. Thus reducing the chances of coil bounces. Because the coil’s height is compulsory in the detection of depth.
Depth Multipliers: It will help the detectors to enhance the ability to produce strong signals from deep down in the ground. Tools like the DetectorPro Uniprobe for pinpointing deep targets can be used.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Detecting Deep Targets

Over-reliance on discrimination settings. Because it may eliminate some deep and faint signals. Thus, you can miss valuable metals.
Ignoring ground balancing. It can make the detector produce false signals. Also, the detection at depth gets ignored.
Sweeping too quickly or holding the coil too high. These two mistakes can lead to decreased sensitivity at depth. Move slowly.
Using the wrong coil for your hunting environment. Always choose the coil size before going into the field. Large coils may cover large and trashy areas. But small coils cannot cover these kinds of areas.

Advanced Tips for Experienced Detectorists

Combining Multiple Frequencies: Normally, multi-frequency metal detectors work between 5 kHz and 40 kHz. It will help to detect deeper and focus on the target.
Gold and other small or low-conductive targets can be detected by higher frequencies (20–40 kHz), while lower frequencies (5–15 kHz) penetrate deeper.
Researching Historical Sites: Most of the valuable items can be found at historical places. Old maps and some records can help you in finding that kind of place.
Experimenting with Settings: Fine-tuning your detector for specific conditions. Practice for some time in random places.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the deepest a metal detector can detect?

The average maximum depth at which most metal detectors can find coins is between 10 and 16 inches. For large, deep treasures, metal detectors can locate more than 20 feet by using radio frequency signals of the search coil.

Can I detect gold at greater depths?

Yes, it is possible to find gold at greater depth, especially with the detectors having high multi-frequency. It depends on the size of the metal(gold) and the soil condition at what depth a detector can detect.

How do I know if a signal is from a deep target?

Signals from deep targets are frequently weak and unpredictable. An object that is deeply buried may be indicated by a weak signal that fails to record a different target ID. Investigating such signals can produce important findings that others have ignored.

Does weather affect depth detection?

Indeed, the weather affects the depth of detection. After rain, moist soil improves conductivity, which makes depth detection easier. On the other hand, dry ground may cause detector performance to decrease. These effects can be lessened by modifying the sensitivity and ground balance settings.