New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

Was detecting just off a track in a forest park. There was a tree that stood out, the ground was quiet all around the area.
Behind it was a flat spot that would have been a good place to bury something. My AT Pro was pinging all over the place, from mid to high and probably some iron lows as well. Nothing could be determined and even depth was hard to read but most likely deep. However, attempting to dig, the ground was riddled with fern roots so I'd need to take a spade.

My question is what could jumpy readings mean apart from multiple targets?

I'm guessing that there was maybe a bait trap there in the past and as they were setting it up, they spilled some nails or some kind of trash. But then again.. it could be a wooden treasure chest. Yesss

I should have filmed it :(
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Edited by user Monday, 8 September 2014 4:42:16 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

You'll never know unless you dig it.

I'm guessing assorted gold and silver coins in a small tin box next to a few bullets.

Hi, I've never used a coin detector but i find with my Gold Bug 2 that certain tree roots can interfere with signals. I generally work on bedrock. There's not anywhere for the roots to go but along the cracks, exactly where gold signals would be. I've noticed that certain tree types are worse, perhaps as the contain more moisture in their root systems. Sometimes this can be not only a solid piece of root but also the really fine mass of roots some vegetation has. The other one is certain ground types. I know areas of really good soil round here that do this. I suspect the soil is full of rotted down magnetite particles out of the seams that are in the green schist boulders nearby.
In a certain spot i had tree root signals in some workings. turned out some were actually good gold. the signals are so similar sometimes. it really pays to dig it all to see what is causing it. A good one that always fools is old ash scattered about. If stuff like old foil chocolate wrappers have been burnt hot enough you often can't really see the little bits that well. little shards of old rusted metal half broken down are a similar pain round here.