In general high frequency units have a definite edge over the conventional detectors in where they are able to detect more pieces of gold as well as smaller ones. In areas in which the gold is naturally found in smaller pieces, these kinds of detectors work well. Given that gold areas are worked on more and more by more prospectors, the targets, no matter how small they are, are still fair game. This does not mean though that frequency is everything. Remember that detectors have to have several other advantages in order to perform appropriately. There are some companies that have auto tracking circuit in their detectors and those that use manual ground canceling techniques. There are ups and downs to both types however it is up to prospector to choose what is best for him personally. In a forested area for example in which there are high benches and where there is evidence of decomposed bedrock and little tailing piles prospecting with a prospecting only detector can be done. Make sure to look at the color of the ground as well since if it is red in color it has iron mineralization in it. In these types of areas the prospector can set the mode switch to autotune. Make sure to use your headphones and increase the threshold tuner clockwise until you are able to hear a very faint hum for maximum sensitivity. The iron disc control should be placed on “off”. Once ground balancing has been done, you can then go in and out of the disc mode as you like. Then lower the loop to the ground with the sensitivity control placed at the maximum amount. There are some detectors that will let out a high pitch if there is much mineralized ground meaning that the ground is simply too mineralized to work in at this level. There are other detectors that will show the ground has too much mineral in it. If there is a loud pitch, in some you can reduce the sensitivity control until the loud pitch has stopped. Then you can go to the ground balance controls and first use the coarse tuner to place the ground balance in order. You can then use the double stacked tuner knobs. Most of the autotune circuits do the same to ground balance.
