Soils and their affects

[spittfire]

Noticed that in a lot of the posts that condition of soil comes into play. What is the perfect soil for preserving finds and what type of soil do you have in your part of the country/ies?
I am in Delaware and in my immediate area is sandy loam, a few miles north of here is clay.
So if you post can you bullet it like this:
DE
Sandy loam
DFX
It will be interesting to see where all are, what soil they have and what they are using to detect with. Thanks!

[OkieDigger]

OK
Concrete (iron reinforced in some places)
DFX
DC Phase reading -85 to -93

[hoser]

Oh OK,
MI.
Sand to sandy loam.
DFX & Beach Hunter ID

[spittfire]

Originally Posted by OkieDigger

OK
Concrete (iron reinforced in some places)
DFX
DC Phase reading -85 to -93

What does that last line mean? Is it what concrete shows on the display?

[OkieDigger]

While not exactly the definition, DC Phase measures the mineralization of the ground. It's a great feature to turn on in the DFX settings.

[DJS]

theres actually quite a variety of soil around here, for the most part its sandy but its also quite swampy(the remnants of lake wisconsin) with alot of clay
we also have quite a bit of iron in the ground, in fact, the old iron mine is about 3 miles from my house, theres so much iron that you really dont want to drink unfiltered well water around here, or even wash your clothes in it, it doesnt seem to effect the metal detecting though

[steve in so az]

Ariz
dry clayey
Fisher 1266 XB

[Carol K]

What is the perfect soil for preserving finds

Clay is the perfect soil for preserving finds.


Our soil here is rather loamy, being in a valley, lots of night crawlers.

No need to buy bait that's for sure.

[spittfire]

Originally Posted by Carol K

Clay is the perfect soil for preserving finds.

I would have thought the opposite as clay is "wet" and sand is "dry". Moisture encourages decay, rust etc. Is it because there is less air in clay and therefore forms a seal around the article? What is the difference in minerals in clay that work towards preservation? If I wanted to put a time capsule in the ground, you would suggest putting it in clay soil then? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks for your help.


Our soil here is rather loamy, being in a valley, lots of night crawlers.

No need to buy bait that's for sure.

[Carol K]

Is it because there is less air in clay and therefore forms a seal around the article?

I believe this is true. Every coin we have ever found that was in clay, wet clay, such as on a riverbank, has came out in pristine condition. Not sure why, but it must have something to do with air not getting to it.

What is the difference in minerals in clay that work towards preservation?

Not sure, but I'm talking about a grey clay, that when it gets wet, turns rather slimy.

If I wanted to put a time capsule in the ground, you would suggest putting it in clay soil then?

It depends on what the time capsule is made of.

[wescowood]

okla
Ground is hard, compact, and very dry. Suggested digging tools should include a back hoe and bulldozer. Dynamite might help some also.

[spittfire]

Thanks Carol!

[steve in so az]

Clay here must be the near perfect preservative as so many finds come out looking great. The eagle buttons I posted a while back were only lightly brushed with water after 140 years or so in the ground. steve in so az

[spittfire]

Originally Posted by steve in so az

Clay here must be the near perfect preservative as so many finds come out looking great. The eagle buttons I posted a while back were only lightly brushed with water after 140 years or so in the ground. steve in so az

Never would have "thunk" that!

[Brian]

Best soil to recover artifacts or coins in good condition is basically a none air acid free one. So clay is very good.
D.C. Phase on any Whites or the T2 does not in fact measure the mineralisation of the ground though Whites did in the past claim it did. Spectrum/XLT is pretty poor. Things improved with the MXT and DFX but still not a true reading.
Ground moisture, even high humidity means you can return to the same patch of ground and get very different readings as the water increases the soils conductivity.

[OkieDigger]

Thus why I said, "not exactly" Close enough for me though.

[simonthesearcher]

Very chalky around where i am

[SteveMN]

MN
Sandy to sandy loam
MXT
Ground mineralization between -65 and -85

Easy diggin around here for the most part.