A Lifetime of Metal Detecting in the Northwest
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Idaho ghost towns yield great finds
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Chicago, IL (December 6, 2022) – Larry Rivera was introduced to metal detecting around 30 years ago. A friend of his was using his machine at a local high school. He told Larry he should try using it and see what he thought. After about an hour, Larry had found a lot of change and was convinced he needed to get a metal detector of his own.
He started with a White’s Gold Master but quickly found he had to dig every target as it had no discrimination. He was able to find a 1911 Barber dime and a walking liberty half dollar with his machine, but his friend was digging more desirable targets with his machine without so much trash. Larry bought a White’s XLT because it was what his friend was using. He began searching places where he thought he would find older coins and relics.
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Assorted gold nuggets and flakes found with Minelab detector.
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When asked when he became interested in switching to a Minelab detector, Larry answered, “I also took an interest in gold nugget hunting. While I had the Gold Master, I was determined to get a Minelab because every gold story I read, the gold was found with Minelab products. I bought a used Minelab GP Extreme and met with the man I bought it from in the Nevada gold fields to learn how to use it.”
He continued, “I found my first nugget on the first day learning my new machine and I was hooked. Over the next few years, I found some nice gold, the largest being a quarter ounce gold nugget.”
As time went on, Larry started taking more interest in finding things of historical value. Unlike detectorists in the far eastern U.S., he didn’t have Revolutionary War and Colonial artifacts to discover. He also wasn’t able to search for the great Civil War relics found in the South. He was fortunate enough to have many old ghost towns and gold mining camps of the far West to search.
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Probably a Chinese gas lantern wall mount found in a ghost town.
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When asked what other finds were among his favorites, Larry responded, “It’s hard to pick just one. Some years ago, I acquired a Minelab EQUINOX 800 and have made some great finds with it thanks to the Multi-IQ feature. At an old community center in north Idaho, I uncovered a World War II silver jump wings pin which is awarded to first airborne when they completed their jump schooling. At another location, I found a World War I hat pin with crossed rifles and a crown. We identified it as a Queens Guard Badge, but have not yet been able to find the origin. Another special find was an 1852 Quebec half penny bank token. This item pre-dated Idaho statehood by several decades. I imagine this token was brought over by a French Canadian trapper back in the day.”
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World War II Airborne pin.
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His passion for finding history only grew stronger as time went by and he started reading local history from the library and driving back roads looking for old homesteads and buildings he might get permission to search. He also talked to elders of the community hoping they would be able to guide him to good spots of the past, which they did. He also started looking at various maps and the internet and discovered research was the biggest part of being successful in finding treasure. He now hunts mostly homesteads and ghost town sites. He hunts with a trusted detectorist and friend, Brenda, who shares his passion for detecting.
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Token saying “Compliments of the Hub, Spokane, Wash” Ghost town find.
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Many detectorists find getting permission to detect private properties is difficult. Like others, Larry has a few tips to accomplish this. “To knock on a door, to ask a stranger if I could dig holes in their yard, just felt out of sorts. I learned first impressions, and a friendly conversation to build a relation was key to getting my foot in the door. Many times these conversations took place in public as I expressed my passion for the hobby. People would tell me of places they thought would be good or they would invite me to their property to detect. Many friendships were made and that was a treasure in itself.”
In 2019, Larry started a YouTube channel called Sodbusters Metal Detecting. He is enjoying sharing his adventures of hunting for history, metal detecting tutorials, and teaching people about the Minelab EQUINOX. He has also created a store selling Sod Busters Metal Detecting merchandise. A year ago, he became an affiliate with Dan Willis of Outlaw Metal Detectors. They now are able to help people choose the right products for their hunting situation and budget.
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1852 half penny Quebec bank token lost by French Canadian trapper?
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Reverse side of Quebec bank token.
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When asked if there was anything else he would like to share, Larry replied, “On April of 2022, Minelab and Debbie Smikoski, honored me by bringing me on as a Minelab detexpert. I never imagined I would have the opportunity to not only represent the best metal detecting products on the planet, but to even be recognized by such an iconic company. I will proudly continue to share my adventures, products, tips, and tricks for as long as I can. I love to help others with the hobby so they can enjoy it as much as I have.”
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ABOUT MINELAB:
Minelab is an Australian, multi-award-winning business that has successfully scaled world markets to command global leadership in its key areas of operation. Based in Mawson Lakes, South Australia, with regional offices in Cork, Ireland; Dubai, UAE; Monterrey, Mexico; Itajai, Brazil; and Chicago, U.S.A., the company specializes in advanced electronic technologies. Since its origins in 1985, Minelab has been the world leader in providing metal-detecting technologies for gold prospecting, treasure hunting and landmine clearance. Through devotion to research and development and innovative design, Minelab is today the major world manufacturer of handheld metal detector products. Over the past 30 years, Minelab has introduced more innovative and practical technology than any of its competitors and has taken the metal detecting industry to new levels of excellence. Minelab is a Codan Limited company (ASX: “CDA”). To learn more about Minelab, visit minelab.com.
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