6.2. PRSR 07-09-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

What is Metal Detecting ? Treasure Hunting is a hobby that is enjoyed by thousands of people Worldwide.The word Treasure is used generically because it means different things to different people.To a hobbyist,treasure can be:Pennies, Nickels,Dimes,Quarters, etc.or it could be simply a horseshoe or an old toy. We use Metal Detectors to find these items.Metal Detectors send a small signal into the ground that gives a response when a metal object is located. (Metal Detectors can only locate"Metal Objects".They cannot find Indian artifacts, fossils,etc.) Most detectors will tell you if it is a coin,what type of coin it is,and how deep it is. They generally will locate coin sized objects from the surface down to about 6-8 inches deep at best. Most brands of Metal detectors are made in the United States,and this industry provides many good jobs for U.S. citizens. What are we looking for? Wherever people have gathered,coins and other objects have been dropped.Over the years,this has resulted in millions of coins, buttons,and various other objects being scattered in the ground across the entire Country_Parks and other public lands have been places where people gather,in both the past and present times: So there has been,and will be,a continuous amount of coins lost in these areas. Locating and recovering these items is a very fun and engaging activity.Thus the hobby of Metal Detecting was created.The hobby of Metal Detecting needs Parks and public lands in order to exist.There are only so many coins and things to be found in your yard,and then you would quickly be out of a hobby. A good quality Metal Detector will cost over$1,000.Most hobbyists will never find anywhere near that much.We don't do this hobby to make money.We do it because we enjoy the activity and sharing what we are finding at our club meetings and with our Facebook Metal Detecting groups. We love and respect History.When we find even the simplest items that can be tied to an event or place,(like trade tokens,etc)we are thrilled with the discovery,and are more than willing to share it with others. What is happening to the items in the ground ? We are all aware of the discovery of the Titanic in 1985.They discovered that the ship is deteriorating at a rapid pace, and at some point in the future it will be gone.This same process happens to manmade objects in the ground. Most of the items lost in the ground are currently in a continuous process of deterioration: Iron objects: Rust. Copper and Brass objects: Develop a powdery green oxidation that eats away at the surface of coins or buttons. Aluminum and zinc objects: Corrode. Over a period of time,plows, mowers,ground movement,frost heaves,and soil weight can also damage items. Left unrecovered,over a period of time,these objects will be permanently lost to history. *Note:These objects would never see the light of day again,if they were not detected and recovered by an individual with a Metal Detector.