The Best Metal Detector for Gold?
Panning for gold or using a pickaxe for hours on end isn’t necessary anymore if you use a metal detector. Detectors made specifically for gold hunting make the hobby a whole lot easier. Visit mountains or areas like rivers, streams, and exposed rock bed to increase your chances of finding gold, especially in the western U.S.
Look for a metal detector that works well in highly mineralized soil. A frequency of 20 kHz or higher is great for gold. You’ll also want a waterproof coil, but the machine itself doesn’t need to be waterproof. As with relic hunting, a harness or guide will be helpful to distribute the weight of heavier machines, since finding gold can take a long time.
One of the most important features in a detector used for gold hunting is that it is stable (meaning less noise) in mineralized ground. Soil out west has a lot of iron ore that will interfere, so having a detector that can find a gold nugget that’s surrounded by iron ore is really important.
Best of the Best
Minelab GPZ 7000
With the Minelab GPZ 7000, you’ll find even the smallest gold nuggets you might miss with other detectors. The Super-D Smart Coil consists of a central transmit winding and two outer receive windings, which greatly decreases interference from magnetic and/or mineralized soils. This detector finds nuggets that are up to 40 percent deeper than previous Minelab GPX models.
This is the most expensive metal detector in our guide, but we think that the payoff is worth it for this Zero Voltage Transmission machine.
- Weight: 7.32 pounds
- Frequency: ZVT (Zero Voltage Transmission)
- Waterproof: Standard coil is waterproof to 1m/3ft.
- Warranty: Three-year limited
Best Value
Find all gold
Small fragments to large nuggets and everything in between can be accurately located with this one detector.
EASY EXPERT
With automatic features and an easy-to-use interface, you’ll be an expert at finding gold from the moment you turn on your GPX 6000. Because Automatic Ground Balance continously adapts to changing soil conditions as you swing your detector over the ground, there’s no need to adjust any settings. Finding gold has never been easier.
GEOSENSE-PI™
GeoSense-PI™ technology analyses and responds to ground signals with great clarity and precision, so you can detect in difficult environments once thought undetectable.
It rapidly suppresses unwanted signals via three overlapping feedback systems for superfast detection of even the tiniest gold pieces.
Powered by GeoSense™ technology, the GPX 6000® is in tune with you and the earth.
Best for Beginners
All-Terrain
No matter what you seek, VANQUISH has you covered. Simply select one of the four Search Modes — Coin, Relic, Jewellery, or Custom — then start swinging. Each mode is pre-programmed and optimised to give you the best performance, anytime and anywhere: park, field or beach. You can even save your favourite settings to a custom Search Mode.
VANQUISH welcomes tough terrain. It dominates at the beach in wet sand and salt water, outperforming other detectors that can’t compete. 25 discrimination segments deliver ultimate control over what metals you want to accept or reject.
PACK AND CARRY
1.3kg (2.8 lbs) light with a unique collapsible snap-lock system makes it easy to pack and go.