Brandon Neice - The Metal Detecting Bible

Text and photographs copyright 2016 Brandon Neice. Design and concept copyright 2016 Ulysses Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized duplication in whole or in part or dissemination of this edition by any means (including but not limited to photocopying, electronic devices, digital versions, and the Internet) will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Published in the U.S. by

Ulysses Press

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Berkeley, CA 94703

www.ulyssespress.com

ISBN: 978-1-61243-538-1

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Managing Editor: Claire Chun

Editor: Renee Rutledge

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Index: Sayre Van Young

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IMPORTANT NOTE TO READERS: This book is independently authored and published and no sponsorship or endorsement of this book by, and no affiliation with, any trademarked brands or other trademarked brands or products mentioned and/or pictured within is claimed or suggested. All trademarks that appear in this book belong to their respective owners and are used here for informational purposes only. The authors and publisher encourage readers to patronize the quality brands and products mentioned and/or pictured in this book.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

When I first began the hobby of prospecting in the 1990s, I was fresh out of high school and eager to learn all that I could to help me find the success I dreamed of. Panning led to sluicing, highbanking, dredging, and eventually, my first true introduction to professional metal detecting. I was in the midst of college and tailored many of my essays, projects, and elective courses to allow me to learn more about geography, geology, history, and any subject matter that might assist me in my detecting endeavors. I immersed myself in all things detecting until the hobby eventually became a profession. Ive had the opportunity to dig gold coins, meteorites, and hundreds of gold nuggets.

The thrill of the hunt and the elation that accompanies great finds is truly addictive. Great discoveries are made every day. But gone are the days when it was easy. Getting started is simple; consistently discovering great finds is not. The abundance of treasure-hunting TV shows has brought welcome attention to the hobby of metal detecting. But with this comes increased competition and the need to be well-rounded and informed. The modern detectorist must master a variety of skills in order to find success.

Along the way, Ive also had the pleasure of meeting and collaborating with the hobbys top names. This book is written by one of them. Ive had the good fortune of collaborating with Brandon on a variety of projects and expeditions. Hes a respected colleague and trusted friend. Brandon has become a true luminary in the field of coin and relic detecting. His passion is infectious, his knowledge deep, and his attention to detail unparalleled. Hes a great ambassador of the hobby and loves sharing that knowledge and experience with those around him.

Too often those new to the hobby become overly preoccupied with the latest technology and gadgets. They lament if they are unable to afford the best equipment money can buy. This is a mistake. The real key to great discoveries has more to do with whats between your ears than what is in your hand. By applying the principles and information in this book, one can get an advantage that previously could only be accomplished with a great deal of time and years of experience. Brandon has condensed years worth of knowledge and experience into an easy-to-read and informative guide. This book will prove to be an asset for both the aspiring hobbyist and the experienced professional.

Eric Magnuson

Cast member on The History Channels

The Legend of the Superstition Mountains

My name is Brandon Neice. Others might know me as Dr. Tones from my YouTube series Dirt Fishin America, a compilation of videos that chronicle my metal detecting adventures with Eric Magnuson (Dirt Digler), T. J. Lawrence (Pickhead), Bill Hines (Billium), and Ryan Jamison (Badger), to name a few.

I was born and raised in Placer County, California, which was the center of attention during the California Gold Rush of 1849. In the third grade, my class went on a field trip to Sutters Mill, the site where James Marshall first discovered gold in California. I remember going home to my father and telling him all about the gold that was literally in our backyard!

Needless to say, I caught the fever that day, little knowing that my father and his two brothers had grown up prospecting and dredging the American River with my grandfather. That weekend, my father purchased my first gold pan and took me to a creek that ran through my great-grandfathers property in the gold-bearing hills of Grass Valley. I watched in wonderment as my father began scouring the creek drainage that snaked its way down the hill to the valley floor. Occasionally I would catch him glancing up at the hills. It seemed as if he were listening to the hills tell the story of how they came to be. He knelt down by the stream and moved a few shovels of earth until he was satisfied with his results. He filled the pan with small amounts of soil from deep within crevices in the bedrock. Once the pan was full he showed me how to separate the gold from the earth by agitating the material with water from the creek. In the bottom of the pangold!

I remember thinking to myself, Its out there! For real! My father was an avid outdoorsman and each weekend was an adventure in the jeep or on horseback into the Sierra Nevada. Everywhere we went, the gold pan came along. Years later, my father moved to Idaho to start an outfitting business. I soon followed. Idaho had an extensive gold rush of its own and I remained an avid prospector.

One day, a friend of mine showed me pictures of some very impressive gold nuggets. I reacted by asking the classic rhetorical question, Where did those come from?! He told me that a friend of his found them using a metal detector. These gold nuggets were far larger than any I had ever seen. A metal detector? I said. Likethe thing that the old guys at the beach use? He laughed and said, Yup! He found more gold in one day than he had in all his years of sluicing, panning, and dredging combined!

One week later, I had my very first metal detector. I had no clue what I was doing, where to look, or what to listen for. It took me almost a year to find my first gold nugget with a metal detector, but it was the biggest nugget I had ever found! I spent every waking moment thinking about getting back out to the gold fields and detecting. Unfortunately, the gold fields were now a little farther away and life managed to hinder my ability to get out. I began metal detecting around town for old coins and relics in hopes of satisfying my urges to get out to the gold fields. I studied old maps and numismatics, and researched locations to find old coins. I began to set goals.

Author holding his recently found Celtic gold stater, circa 20 BC.

At first, they were modest: Find a silver coin, find a silver quarter, reach the 1800s, etc. My enthusiasm grew with each new benchmark, and I soon realized I was addicted. My passion had grown from gold to nearly everything. I wanted to find it all! Gold, coins, jewelry, relics, meteorites, sunken treasure