<p><strong>Following a decade absence from treasure hunting and gold prospecting, I was fanging to get back out to my favourite historical sites armed with the latest cutting-edge technology from Minelab.</strong> I had previously worked a Minelab XT 18000 for several years and unearthed various relics and coins including British pennies dated from the 1860’s, and also a bucket load of $1 and $2 coins on the beaches.</p> [split] <p>After several days of on-line research of various reliable sources, I made my decision in terms of a suitable “beeper stick”. It had to be a Minelab X-TERRA 705 or nothing mate! I forked out “a gorilla of gold coins” (1000 bucks) and scored an X-TERRA 705 dual coil package – for my pending return to adventures within the best of both worlds – coin/relic hunting and gold nugget detecting.</p> <p>I was very keen to assess the capabilities of my new X-TERRA 705 on a new patch of ground that my best mate, Tim, and I had researched. It was a site only known to a handful of tight-lipped locals where a hotel had once stood back in the mid to late 1800’s and nearby a small village which included a blacksmith’s workshop and a butchers shop. We were excited to say the least. </p> <p>After reading the instruction manual, I fired up the X-TERRA 705. I then did some field testing by burying various copper, silver and gold coins at various depths of up to one foot. After familiarising ourselves with the typical Target ID numbers flashing up on the LCD and the corresponding crisp sound signals, we were confident of success. Talk about a user-friendly bit of gear (and no I am not on the Minelab payroll…well not yet…Ha Ha Ha).</p> <p>We hit the site mid-morning and it was not long before we were digging up metallic surprises left, right and centre. After a few hours of sweeping, beeping and reaping we had unearthed an assortment of relics from the mid to late 1800’s which included the back of an old silver fob watch, an engraved silver measuring cup, brass bits and buckles from horse saddles, a large horseshoe, lead sheeting, lamp pieces, a plough tyne, old brass plates, an ornate copper brooch, an axe head, a rasp, brass bits from mouth harmonica’s, old brass shotgun shells, boot heel plates, and also glass bottles and broken pieces of china. This relic haul had exceeded our expectations. Wow !</p> <p>Now I am absolutely chomping at the bit to unleash my X-TERRA 705 over the site of an old Cobb and Co. route hotel where I had previously worked my XT 18000 with great success. I also plan to introduce my misses, my brothers and my nephews to this exciting outdoor activity. Stay tuned for more adventures. </p>