White’s Electronics MXT Pro - Manual (Page 18)

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Chapter 4 MXT Pro Display
Prospecting MODE
The Prospecting MODE changes the audio and display
information more dramatically compared to switching from
Coin & Jewelry to Relic.
Gold in its natural state can be any size and shape from
very tiny pinhead size flakes to large placer gold nuggets as
well as veins of various sizes in quartz rocks. The Prospect-
ing MODE takes these facts into consideration and changes
the display accordingly.
When prospecting, an operator must expect to dig nonfer-
rous (not of iron) trash metals such as aluminum, lead, and
small brass. Any of these metals can and do illicit the same
response as gold and MUST BE DUG. Attempts should be
made to avoid only IRON targets and only when possible.
The MXT Pro displays information, which is intended to help
the user determine whether the target is NON-IRON (dig) or
IRON (don’t dig). In heavy mineralized ground tiny pieces of
gold can sometimes look like IRON to a metal detector and
small pieces of IRON can look like gold. The VDI numbers
and Iron Probability scale both provide help in determining
when to dig.
The Prospecting MODE provides four significant display
indications.
1. VDI- The VDI number is listed on the display and refer-
enced on the label below the display. Gold can indicate any-
where from slightly negative to +80 on the scale, however,
most small nuggets indicate in the -20 to +40 range. Metals
that indicate above +80, or below -20 are highly unlikely to
be gold unless they are conglomerated with highly unusual
alloys. If the VDI number tends to jump back and forth from
small negative numbers to small positive numbers it is usu-
ally a small piece of some metal and should be investigated
by digging.
Remember, small flakes of gold in bad ground can read into
the small negative range. A magnet on your digging pick can
sort out a small shard of iron quickly.
2. % IRON TARGET- Indicates the likelihood the target
is ferrous (iron) expressed in a %. This indication can be
different in different areas depending upon the degree of
mineralization. As a general rule targets registering 60%,
70%, 80%, and 90% are going to be iron. 80% and over will
produce the audio grunt using the standard turn-on & go set-
tings. Targets that register 10%, 20%, 30% or 40% are going
to be gold or (lead, copper, aluminum, brass). All targets reg-
istering 50% or below should be investigated. As mentioned
under the VDI section, iron ground mineralization can distort
the way the detector reacts to gold. It is always a good idea
to place a penny-weight test nugget just under the surface
of the ground where ever you are going to be prospecting
and note how it reacts to the IRON TARGET %. If a small
test nugget is not available, a USA nickel or lead bullet will
respond identically to most similar sized gold nuggets. This
will give you a gauge as to what to expect. Ground minerals
and the size of the target affect the degree of dependability.
It is not uncommon for a small piece of gold in very bad
ground to read 70% probability of being iron. Remember
when in doubt… DIG. Use both the VDI and % IRON PROB-
ABILITY. Dig often at first, till you get a feel for the area and
accuracy in that ground. When searching a new area, retest
the sample target and % Iron Probability accuracy.
NOTE- The display reading above would indicate a target
with a proper VDI number for gold and a low % iron target
Mode toggle
switch Down for
Prospecting