Metal Detecting Terminology

Metal detector modes that require loop motion to respond to metal.

Testing a metal detectors response to various metallic samples with the loop held away from the ground. This test is not an accurate indicator of ground depth penetration capability.

Describes any mode or control setting allowing total acceptance of all types of metal targets, iron and non iron.

Circuitry or mode producing different audio tones (pitches) for different target types.

(Automatic Ground Tracking) A feature that continually and automatically readjusts the ground balance of a metal detector during searching.

The tail of a pull tab separated from the ring.. .usually giving the same signal as nickels and gold rings.

A false target response caused by either overloading due to a very strong target near the loop, or a rejected trash target very close to the loop.

One of the most extreme components of non conducting negative ground mineralization. Also called (Fe304), magnetite, iron oxide, magnetic sand

Usually any type of treasure consisting of a quantity of money or other valuables that has been intentionally buried or secreted

Coins that are still in circulation... Usually dating from 1965 and on

One of the major mineral types which makes up the positive ground matrix. Wet ocean salt/sand will produce a positive indication much like a metal target.

The measure of eddy currents of electricity that generate on a metals surface.

Feature choices on a computerized metal detector that are then saved or stored for future use

Used to refer to metal detector modes that do not require loop motion to metal targets.

A barely audible signal.

The shape of the electromagnetic detection field generated by a metal detector's loop.

A method of narrowing a target signal's width and length for precise pinpointing.

How deep a detector can respond to metal targets.

Feather that indicates how deep a target is in the ground before digging.

Adjustable feature that can ignore or respond to different metal types based on their amplitude and phase. Used to cancel responses of unwanted trash metals.

A loss or increase in threshold caused by the passage of time or variations in temperature.

Abbreviated term for discrimination. Discrimination allows the detector to selectively reject certain metal objects or junk

An indentation left by other detectorists who have previously hunted an area.

Small circulating currents of electricity on the surface of metal produced by external electromagnetic fields.

An invisible force extending from the loop created by the flow of alternating oscillator frequency current around the transmit winding.

A loop with an ellipse (oval ) shape

Erroneous signal caused by non-metal items.

Conductive coating inside loops, loop cables, and control housings to eliminate electrostatic interference.

Decomposed particles of iron (mineralization).

The number of complete alternating currents cycles produced by the transmit oscillator per second. Measured in Hertz (Hz) or cycles per second.

Changes the operating frequency suppressing the interference (cross talk) between detectors.

A target so deep or so small as to be barley detectable with a metal detector.

Total volume of undisturbed ground, usually contains varying amounts and combinations of minerals, moisture, and salt. In an undisturbed condition the ground matrix can exhibit numerous phenomenon regarding metal detector performance.

Abbreviated term for Ground Balance. Ground Balance is achieved by adjusting the GND BALANCE control for the neutral response to the mineral content in the ground depending on the detector model features.

Abbreviated term for Ground Balance Discriminate. This mode allows both ground neutralization and selective discrimination at the same time

A configuration where the control box of a metal detector is mounted on the operators hip limiting the weight one has to sweep to that of the loop and rod assembly.

Certain metals when buried for long periods oxidize and leech into the surrounding soil. This results in a Metallic Halo around the buried object

When a detector is mounted on a belt around the waist and not mounted on the stem.

Hindrance of performance due to sources outside a metal detector causing static and unwanted or false signals

Barely audible tone set by the TUNER control.

Indicates no change in threshold tone.

Indicates reduction or loss of tone.

Indicates an increase in tone.

Refers to soils containing ferric oxides or magnetic particles.

A digital display used for graphic visual indications as an alternative to the use of meters.

A non-metal housing containing the transmit and receive windings used to generate and receive signals from metal targets, Also called search coil. antenna, or search disc.

a computerized metal detector's ability to retain operator selected settings for future use.

A display screen that allows the operator to choose among different features.

An analog component which provides visual indications regarding a metal target (Alternative to LCD displays)

When a good target is eliminated due to the closeness of a trash target.

Any penny dated from 1959 and after.

Whenever a coin will not be detected because of interference or a piece of trash metal located too close to the coin/essentially a zeroing out of a good target caused by trash located near it.

Any soil or sand that contains conductive and/or magnetic components (minerals).

A special metal detector mode that combines all metal and discriminate features into one operating mode.

A condition or feature of operation selected by the operator for specific functions.

A detector type that requires search loop movement to activate the signal from a metal target.

An electronic component (chip) that can be programmed to perform a variety of functions and control a variety of feature

Soil containing mostly magnetic minerals.

Soil that contains no significant minerals.

A battery type that can be recharged.

Not of iron - Metals of the precious and semi precious class (i.e. aluminum, brass, lead, gold, silver, copper).

Mode that will respond to metals with or without movement of the loop.

Discrimination circuitry that allows an area of the discrimination range to be accepted or rejected independently of the rearming discrimination range ( a window of acceptance or rejection within the discriminate range).

Finite range of of a notch discrimination setting( how wide of a window is accepted or rejected).

A decrease in sound caused by rejection of target or ground mineralization.

An electronic component or circuitry designed to generate a specific rate of current frequency to power the loop's transmit winding.

Advancing each sweep of the coil or loop in small increments to insure good area coverage. Each sweep should overlap the last by at least 50%.

Occurs when the receiver of a metal detector becomes overwhelmed due to too much signal (ground and/or target).

A false signal heard as the loop passes over a rejected target when using a non motion discriminate mode in combination with automatic tuning ( S.A.T. ) Excessive tuning restoration pushes the audio above the threshold level creating a positive response at the edges of target detection

The length of time between eddy current generation sustained on a metals surface and the resultant secondary electromagnetic field effect on the loops receive winding. Related to target conductivity.

Finding the exact target location with respect to the loops physical center.

A type of metal detector circuitry that operates differently than the standard Transmit Receiver or Very Low Frequency Instruments. Primarily recommended for better results in salt water.

Soils that contain conductive components such as salt.

A control setting or marking determined to work well for average condition.

A selection of a computerized metal detector that automatically selects all the features suited to a particular type of searching condition.

Searching for gold in its natural state ( like nuggets).

Non acceptance or cancellation of a target response by discrimination circuitry.

An artifact of the past.

Automatically resets the threshold to correct for any minor ground, temperature, or electrical changes that typically cause threshold variations.

Sweeping the loop with contact to the ground.

( See Loop).

Measure of a detectors ability to respond to targets within the detection pattern. Usually indicate the capability to respond to small targets rather than maximum detection depth.

A graphic display of a pattern characterizing a targets electrical and/or magnetic properties.

An audio response or visual indication alerting the operator that a metal target has been detected.

Capability of of a metal detector to respond to metals without a threshold or background sound being heard continually during searching.

For example, when two detectors are operating too close causing interference and erratic operation

A silver coin as opposed to a clad coin... Usually dated pre 1965.

a layering caused by soil deposition/deposits of soil build layers above an object over the years causing the object to be deeper due to deposition.

The ability of a metal detector to maintain smooth operation without interference or unstable behavior.

Motion employed in moving loop over the ground.

Target Identification to identify detected metal objects.

Refers to any object that causes an audio or display indication.

When large size or high concentrations of trash metals, or extreme mineralization, drive the threshold into the null zone suppressing weaker positive responses.

A control knob which can be rotated ten times to cover the full electrical range of the feature.

A Mapped plot of buried targets at various depths to aid in learning the characteristics of a metal detector.

Universal word contractions for treasure hunter and treasure hunting.

The background hum heard continually during the use of a metal detector indicating the most sensitive audio.

An adjustment for audio frequency or pitch.

Switches encapsulated in plastic or that allows the operator to select different functions or features.

A coil of wire inside the loop that creates the primary Electromagnetic field.

Term used to describe early metal detector technology. Usually describes non ground rejecting detectors or models.

A metal detector that has the transmit and receive coils mounted in separate housings. By enlarging and separating the transmit and receive coils great depths regarding large metal items can be achieved. Also called cache detectors.

A liquid crystals display adjustment for contrast allowing optimum visibility for various light conditions.

The ability of a metal detector to determine trash or non trash by means of visual indications.

Visual Discrimination Indication: A visual indication as to the type of target a metal detector is detecting.

Generally used to refer to metal detectors that can cancel the effects of ground Mineralization, typically with operating frequencies in the 3-30 kHz range.

A detector that can cancel ground mineralization while at the same time discriminate against trash.

Circuitry that controls the amount of electricity supplied to operate a metal detector with no loss in performance over a specific voltage/current range.

Any penny pre 1959 with the wheat straw symbol on the reverse of the coin.

Used to describe detectors whose discrimination control allows the acceptance of all types of metals when set to the zero position.

Any penny dated from 1982* and after/Usually very pitted when dug out of the ground. * Composition changed to copper plated zinc. Core is 99.2% zinc, 0.8% copper, with a plating of pure copper. Weight is 2.5 grams (approximately 20% lighter than the copper cents)