Looking for PI field test locations

[Tinkerer]

Where are the most difficult ground conditions in Europe?

I am getting ready to do some extensive field testing with a new technology PI metal detector. In the region I live, in Switzerland, the ground is mild. Now I am looking for difficult ground. Difficult means any type of ground where detecting is difficult because of:

- High ground conductivity because of salts, like ocean beaches, salt lakes etc. or containing non magnetic minerals.

- Higly "mineralized" ground, usually means high iron mineral content, like red brick clay, iron ore, and in general iron containing minerals, including "black sand" hematite etc. Basalt etc.

- hot rocks, meaning regions or areas with a relatively milder ground matrix, but containing rocks or aglomerates that are higher mineralized.

- areas with large quantities of fired brick fragments.

What are the worst ground conditions in your area? Where is that? How does one get there?

[ivconic]

Where are the most difficult ground conditions in Europe?

I am getting ready to do some extensive field testing with a new technology PI metal detector. In the region I live, in Switzerland, the ground is mild. Now I am looking for difficult ground. Difficult means any type of ground where detecting is difficult because of:

- High ground conductivity because of salts, like ocean beaches, salt lakes etc. or containing non magnetic minerals.

- Higly "mineralized" ground, usually means high iron mineral content, like red brick clay, iron ore, and in general iron containing minerals, including "black sand" hematite etc. Basalt etc.

- hot rocks, meaning regions or areas with a relatively milder ground matrix, but containing rocks or aglomerates that are higher mineralized.

- areas with large quantities of fired brick fragments.

What are the worst ground conditions in your area? Where is that? How does one get there?

I guess you haven't following my recent (founding as pretty annoying by some people here) reports about my local site here, where i discovered lately very interesting and precious finds.
Soil on that site is pretty "heavy" for top notch VLF IB detector that i have.
Shortly; it is rocky hill with high mineralization, lot of iron oxide, broken and melted ceramics and lot of hotrocks.
It was a fortress once in Byzantine period, burned down and scattered all around, down the hill.
There are piles of mixed material and very possible precious finds under those.
I think it is perfect place for "heavy" testing on any kind of metal detector.
There is only one problem (not for me, i am used on that); springtime is here, vegetation exploding, lot of snakes there!
And it is steeply terrain, very tough for moving. Lot of small bushes with sharp branches. Bloody situation.
But... if you ask for really "real deal"; that's it!

[ivconic]

Forgot to mention; i have 5-6 sites like that here in 20km radius.
All with ancient History. All pretty much explored and exhausted with conventional md technology.
But also all very potent with deeper precious finds.
There is one site even harder, 12km away from me, where my IB detector becomes pretty much useless due very high concentration of hotrocks and mineralization.
Dating from V or VI century and until XIV century, all sites.
And few of them dating from VIII century B.C.

[Nupi]

Hi, Tinkerer.
Maybe you made it already.
I made several difficult soils by myself before I went to test in practice.
Tests beds. (high iron mineral content, "black sand" hematite from the USA, basalt, iron ore, etc...).
The big advantage of test beds is that you constantly have the same difficult conditions in testing, adjusting etc ...for your MD and that is in my view essential.
Maybe can Bente help you to find places in Germany and Teleno in Spain, and of course Ivconic, just to give an example.

[ivconic]

Hi, Tinkerer.
Maybe you made it already.
I made several difficult soils by myself before I went to test in practice.
Tests beds. (high iron mineral content, "black sand" hematite from the USA, basalt, iron ore, etc...) before I went to test in practice.
The big advantage of test beds is that you constantly have the same difficult conditions in testing, adjusting etc ...for your MD and that is in my view essential.
Maybe can Bente help you to find places in Germany and Teleno in Spain, and of course Ivconic, just to give an example.

Our friend WM6 is also having similar testing bed. We used to talk much on that subject.
My opinion (not mandatory true) is that such testing beds are not reflecting the reality from natural sites.
Even if you make it from mixture; it is still "uniform" with conditions.
While in nature conditions could dramatically change on each square meter.
Along with that; environmental conditions are very important factor too.
Testing bed situated at your home or in your backyard would be directly connected with local environmental conditions (industrial hum, power&communication net, local climatic etc).
I think the smartest one can do is first to clarify and define the targeted group of future customers and along with that targeted market for the product.
Than to visit area of such targeted market and there to perform detailed testings.
For simple example; if your plans are to sell your detector in USA market than first clarify and define precise area there where you think you'll have most of customers.
Than go there and visit typical site and perform testings.
Testing beds are good only for initial testings in process of finishing the device.

[Nupi]

Our friend WM6 is also having similar testing bed. We used to talk much on that subject.
My opinion (not mandatory true) is that such testing beds are not reflecting the reality from natural sites.
Even if you make it from mixture; it is still "uniform" with conditions.
While in nature conditions could dramatically change on each square meter.
Along with that; environmental conditions are very important factor too.
Testing bed situated at your home or in your backyard would be directly connected with local environmental conditions (industrial hum, power&communication net, local climatic etc).
I think the smartest one can do is first to clarify and define the targeted group of future customers and along with that targeted market for the product.
Than to visit area of such targeted market and there to perform detailed testings.
For simple example; if your plans are to sell your detector in USA market than first clarify and define precise area there where you think you'll have most of customers.
Than go there and visit typical site and perform testings.
Testing beds are good only for initial testings in process of finishing the device.

I agree with you,
but in order to test new elements and new adjustments on your MD and observe the new behavior and measure the necessary components with extensive test equipment and many video recordings, soldering spot other components etc.. and then develop them further, I find test beds essential.
I agree, real soils and local environmental conditions is the most important, and there needs to be tested, the most final testings.

[Nexus]

Where are the most difficult ground conditions in Europe?

I am getting ready to do some extensive field testing with a new technology PI metal detector. In the region I live, in Switzerland, the ground is mild. Now I am looking for difficult ground. Difficult means any type of ground where detecting is difficult because of:

- High ground conductivity because of salts, like ocean beaches, salt lakes etc. or containing non magnetic minerals.

- Higly "mineralized" ground, usually means high iron mineral content, like red brick clay, iron ore, and in general iron containing minerals, including "black sand" hematite etc. Basalt etc.

- hot rocks, meaning regions or areas with a relatively milder ground matrix, but containing rocks or aglomerates that are higher mineralized.

- areas with large quantities of fired brick fragments.

What are the worst ground conditions in your area? Where is that? How does one get there?

You are welcome to come to Bulgaria. We have here every possible scenario of a hell conditions ranging from black sand beaches, black sand river beds, magnetic basalt areas, highly mineralized aglomerates and near impossible to work on highly conductive soil fields (black soil), not due to salts, but due to extreme humic content. On the highly conductive black soil all PI have failed to perform properly so far.

[Tinkerer]

I guess you haven't following my recent (founding as pretty annoying by some people here) reports about my local site here, where i discovered lately very interesting and precious finds.
Soil on that site is pretty "heavy" for top notch VLF IB detector that i have.
Shortly; it is rocky hill with high mineralization, lot of iron oxide, broken and melted ceramics and lot of hotrocks.
It was a fortress once in Byzantine period, burned down and scattered all around, down the hill.
There are piles of mixed material and very possible precious finds under those.
I think it is perfect place for "heavy" testing on any kind of metal detector.
There is only one problem (not for me, i am used on that); springtime is here, vegetation exploding, lot of snakes there!
And it is steeply terrain, very tough for moving. Lot of small bushes with sharp branches. Bloody situation.
But... if you ask for really "real deal"; that's it!

Thank you for the reply.
Your site sounds very interesting.
What diameter coil would you recommend for that place?
Is it legal to detect, dig and remove artifacts?
Poisonous snakes? What type?
What is the best time of the year?
What are the logistics? distance to town etc?
Would you be interested to act as guide and tester at this site? What would your conditions be?If you are not available personally, could you recommend a trusted person?

[Tinkerer]

Forgot to mention; i have 5-6 sites like that here in 20km radius.
All with ancient History. All pretty much explored and exhausted with conventional md technology.
But also all very potent with deeper precious finds.
There is one site even harder, 12km away from me, where my IB detector becomes pretty much useless due very high concentration of hotrocks and mineralization.
Dating from V or VI century and until XIV century, all sites.
And few of them dating from VIII century B.C.

As I intend to test a PI detector that exells in areas where a VLF detector does not work, this site of yours seems to be very interesting.

[Tinkerer]

I agree with you,
but in order to test new elements and new adjustments on your MD and observe the new behavior and measure the necessary components with extensive test equipment and many video recordings, soldering spot other components etc.. and then develop them further, I find test beds essential.
I agree, real soils and local environmental conditions is the most important, and there needs to be tested, the most final testings.

Thank you for taking the time to reply.
I agree, test beds are essential during the R&D phases. Then comes the time of real field testing, to find the flaws that did not become apparent in the test bed.

[Tinkerer]

You are welcome to come to Bulgaria. We have here every possible scenario of a hell conditions ranging from black sand beaches, black sand river beds, magnetic basalt areas, highly mineralized aglomerates and near impossible to work on highly conductive soil fields (black soil), not due to salts, but due to extreme humic content. On the highly conductive black soil all PI have failed to perform properly so far.

Thank you for responding.

A "scenario of hell conditions" is what I am looking for.

Please tell me more about the legal situation of using metal detectors in Bulgaria.
Also I would like to know more about logistics.
The language problem? I speak English, French, Spanish, German and Portuguese. Will I find somebody to translate for me and assist as a guide?
I need to prepare a reasonable budget for the test expedition. Could you give me an idea about cost?

[Tinkerer]

Gold nuggets in Europe?

Does anybody know of regions in Europe, where gold nuggets can be found?

[ivconic]

Thank you for the reply.
Your site sounds very interesting.
What diameter coil would you recommend for that place?
Is it legal to detect, dig and remove artifacts?
Poisonous snakes? What type?
What is the best time of the year?
What are the logistics? distance to town etc?
Would you be interested to act as guide and tester at this site? What would your conditions be?If you are not available personally, could you recommend a trusted person?

I will answer all you questions on email.
Is it the same email that i have from the past?
Is it "[email protected]" ?

[Nupi]

Does anybody know of regions in Europe, where gold nuggets can be found?

In Spain (my homeland) in rivers, mountains, old gold mines.

[Tinkerer]

I will answer all you questions on email.
Is it the same email that i have from the past?
Is it "[email protected]" ?

Still the same, thank you