Buying guide
Gold metal detectors
For small gold, pick a high-frequency detector such as the Gold Monster 1000, at 45 kHz. Pulse induction is the other approach: Minelab publishes no kHz value for the GPX 6000, which offers Normal, Difficult and Severe ground types.
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The picks
Four high-frequency VLF detectors and two Minelab models for difficult ground. Each frame shows three facts from the maker's page and one button to a listing whose title names the exact model.
1. Minelab Gold Monster 1000
One high frequency, 45 kHz, and two modes, Gold and Deep All Metal, on a 5-inch DD coil. Minelab includes a digging shovel.
2. Fisher Gold Bug 2
The highest published frequency here, 71 kHz, at 2.9 lb, with up to 35 h on 2 x 9 V batteries.
Sold as a two-coil package: the listing names 6 and 10-inch elliptical coils.
3. Garrett Goldmaster 24k
The Goldmaster 24k runs 48 kHz and has the longest published battery life here, 45 h on 8 x AA. Garrett gives its weight as 3.4 lb at most.
4. Garrett AT Gold
The one to take into a creek: Garrett rates it submersible to 10 feet in fresh water. It has a 5 x 8-inch DD coil and target IDs from 0 to 99; for frequency, Garrett says only "high frequency".
5. Minelab GPX 6000
Pulse induction, which Minelab calls GeoSense-PI, with Normal, Difficult and Severe ground types. It weighs 4.6 lb, and its listing names the two coils Minelab puts in the box.
6. Minelab GPZ 7000
Minelab's ZVT (Zero Voltage Transmission) model, on a GPZ14 Super-D coil. The heaviest published weight here, 7.32 lb, and Minelab includes a Pro-Swing 45 harness.
Sold as a bundle: the listing names an extra lithium-ion battery with the detector.
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Side by side
The same facts for every pick, read on each maker's page. Open a model for its full spec sheet.
| Model | Technology | Frequencies | Waterproofing | Weight | Coil | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minelab Gold Monster 1000 | Single frequency | 45 kHz | 3.3 ftCoil only, 1 m | 2.94 lb1.33 kg | 5-inchGM05, round, DD | 2 x 7.2 V 2700 mAh lithium-ion removable packs, or 8 x AA (not included) |
| Fisher Gold Bug 2 | Single frequency | 71 kHz | CoilWaterproof part | 2.9 lb | 10-inchelliptical | 2 x 9 V |
| Garrett Goldmaster 24k | Single frequency | 48 kHz | CoilWaterproof part | 3.4 lb | 6 x 10-inchelliptical, DD | 8 x AA |
| Garrett AT Gold | Single frequency | Not published | 10 ftDetector, 3 m | Not published | 5 x 8-inchPROformance, DD | 4 x AA (included) |
| Minelab GPX 6000 | Pulse inductionGeoSense-PI | Not published | 3.3 ftCoil only, 1 m | 4.6 lb2.1 kg | 14-inchGPX14, round, DD, plus 1 more | 7.4 V 5833 mAh lithium-ion removable pack |
| Minelab GPZ 7000 | ZVTZVT (Zero Voltage Transmission) | Not published | 3.3 ftCoil only, 1 m | 7.32 lb3.32 kg | 14 x 13-inchGPZ14, Super-D | 7.2 V 72 Wh lithium-ion removable pack |
Facts from the pages of Minelab, First Texas Products, Garrett and Serious Detecting, read Oct. 16, 2026.
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How to choose
A frequency for the size of the gold
Makers set their gold VLFs high, for small gold. An all-purpose model like the ACE 200 runs 6.5 kHz. The three gold VLFs here that publish a value run 45 to 71 kHz.
VLF, PI or ZVT
A VLF is lighter: 2.9 lb for the Gold Bug 2, and the lightest detectors on file are ranked by published weight. The pulse induction GPX 6000 weighs 4.6 lb and the ZVT GPZ 7000 7.32 lb. Both have a Ground Type setting with Normal, Difficult and Severe choices.
Water on the claim
Of the six, only the AT Gold is rated as a whole, to 10 ft in fresh water. On the other five, the makers rate only the coil. Minelab rates the GPX 6000 against splashes and rain only.
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What to know before you buy
We quote no depth for gold: it depends on the target, the ground and the coil. Our page on detecting gold explains why small gold is hard to find.
The Nokta Gold Kruzer runs 61 kHz and is rated IP68, submersible to 16.4 ft (5 m). Its only listing we found, a bundle, had no new offer when we checked on Oct. 16, 2026, so it has no frame here.
Two of the six listings are bundles: the Gold Bug 2 and GPZ 7000 packages. Each frame says what the listing names. When we checked on Oct. 16, 2026, each was sold new by the brand, a detecting dealer or a seller with no sign of counterfeits. The seller can change, so look at who sells it before you pay.
Prospecting has its own rules. The BLM's mining rules generally include metal detectors used to sense minerals in casual use. Our BLM page summarizes the texts.
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Questions
Answered from the makers' pages, read Oct. 16, 2026.
Makers put their gold VLFs high. The Gold Monster 1000 runs 45 kHz, the Goldmaster 24k 48 kHz and the Gold Bug 2 71 kHz. Minelab publishes no kHz value for the GPX 6000 or the GPZ 7000.
The AT Gold is submersible to 10 feet in fresh water. On the other five, only the coil is rated; Minelab rates the Gold Monster 1000 coil to 3.3 ft (1 m).
Yes, any metal detector reacts to coins. Gold models are built around small gold, though; our guide to general detectors compares seven of them.
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