TracLock ON
TracLock ON (tap)
Ground Scan (hold)
Controls
TracLock
TracLock on the GMX is the locked, “manual” ground setting. It functions similar to the
original GMT.
To LOCK the ground tracking to the current setting, TAP the LOCK button. A padlock
will display on the screen. This will put a hold on XGB and lock the current ground
phase and strength setting. This can be useful in those cases where you may find extreme-
ly tiny gold, or when you have located a faint target. In some cases automatic ground
balance has the potential to track out tiny nuggets as you zero-in on your target. You may
find it useful to enable XGB while searching, and then LOCK the tracking right after you
get a target.
Ground Grab
While the tracking is locked, you can press the CROSS HAIR button to perform a
Ground Grab. This updates the ground setting to what is currently under the coil. With a
combination of LOCKED tracking and Ground Grab you can easily update the ground
balance point as you swing, which serves as a sort of hybrid method of operation.
When you perform a Ground Grab the current ground phase reading will briefly display
on the screen. This is a good way to keep track of the type of mineralization you are
walking over. More ferrous soils tend to produce a larger ground number, whereas more
alkali soils will produce a smaller number.
Ground Grab will also display the ground phase when the GMX is in XGB (automatic)
mode, but does not interrupt the automatic tracking processes.
Ground Scan
Ground Scan is enabled by holding the LOCK button. The display will change to display
the ground strength on the top bar, increasing from right to left. Full bars equates to
very strong mineralization, and one flashing bar alerts you that no ground information is
present.
The two-digit numbers displayed are the ground phase. Solid ferrite will read around 81,
alkali will read between 50 and 30, but you may encounter any range of phase numbers
depending on the area you are in.
Ground Scan is very useful in prospecting dry washes or creek beds for black sand
deposits. One trick you can use is to carry some landscaping flags with you, placing one
down where the mineralization is the strongest about every 10 ft. After making a pass you
can look back at the flags to identify the highest concentration of minerals. That is where
you would want to process material through a sluice or dry washer.
To return back to the regular search mode, tap the LOCK or CROSS HAIRS.
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