Minelab GOLD MONSTER 1000 45 kHz Gold Metal Detector with GM05 5 in Coil

The Minelab GOLD MONSTER 1000 with the GM05 5 inch coil is a 45 kHz VLF gold detector for someone who wants a dedicated natural gold detector without having to master complicated settings. Minelab sells the GOLD MONSTER 1000 in this configuration as part 3317-0005, built around a compact Double-D coil for exposed bedrock, dry creek beds and rocky ground. Easy-Trak automatic ground balance, Auto and Auto+ sensitivity and the Gold Chance Indicator from Minelab handle much of the setup, and Minelab rates the GM05 coil waterproof to 1 meter (3.3 feet).

What is in the box with the Minelab GOLD MONSTER 1000

Minelab's standard contents for the GOLD MONSTER 1000 with GM05 coil (Minelab part 3317-0005)

• Minelab GOLD MONSTER 1000 detector with control box and three-piece shaft
• GM05 5 inch round Double-D search coil
• Wired headphones with 3.5 mm plug
• Minelab digging shovel
• Rod-to-coil adapter
• Two rechargeable 7.2 V, 2700 mAh lithium-ion batteries
• AA battery adapter
• Car battery charging cable
• Universal AC adapter

Who the Minelab GOLD MONSTER 1000 suits

We like the GOLD MONSTER 1000 most for someone who wants to start hunting small natural gold without first mastering a page of detector settings. Minelab built the GOLD MONSTER 1000 around a 45 kHz VLF system with automatic ground balance, automatic noise cancel and Auto sensitivity, so a beginner can switch on, leave the automatic settings in charge and put the effort into learning where gold occurs. A gold detector does not replace that homework. Geology, historical mining records and land access rules still decide where a day is worth spending. For a straightforward small gold detector, we find it particularly appealing for a new prospector.

45 kHz VLF and 24-bit signal processing

Minelab runs the GOLD MONSTER 1000 on a single 45 kHz VLF frequency with 24-bit signal processing. The 24-bit processing is there to help the detector separate weak target signals from the ground while staying stable enough to use. For a deeper look at how frequency shapes target detection, see our guide to getting the most from high-frequency detecting.

Settings that matter on the GOLD MONSTER 1000

Sensitivity: Minelab gives the GOLD MONSTER 1000 ten manual sensitivity levels plus Auto and Auto+, and Minelab says Auto+ adds sensitivity while still adapting to the ground. On an unfamiliar goldfield, where you do not yet know how mineralized the ground is, we would start on Auto. Do not assume the most aggressive setting finds the most gold. In difficult ground a quieter detector is easier to read, and a faint signal that repeats stands out better against a calm threshold.

Ground balance: Easy-Trak adjusts the ground balance automatically as you walk. Cross a hillside where the soil changes from mild to highly mineralized and the detector keeps up, so a beginner can watch for targets instead of chasing settings. Automatic ground balance does not silence every hot rock, so learn how the hot rocks on your own ground sound.

Gold mode or Deep All-Metal

The GOLD MONSTER 1000 has two detect modes. Gold (Iron Reject) uses iron rejection to reduce unwanted ferrous responses, which can make a site with a lot of rusty iron debris much more comfortable to search. Discrimination always involves tradeoffs: a small nugget lying next to iron may produce a complicated response. Deep All-Metal accepts a broader range of metal responses and does not lean on the same iron rejection. On a remote goldfield with little modern trash, where the goal is small natural gold, we would be inclined to run Deep All-Metal and investigate a wide range of repeatable signals. Deep All-Metal does not automatically detect deeper everywhere, since ground, target and sensitivity still matter; its practical advantage is that you hear more about the metal under the coil. Pick the mode by how much unwanted metal the site holds.

The GM05 coil for small gold

The GM05 in this package is a 5 inch round Double-D coil, and we think it is a particularly interesting coil for small gold. Exposed bedrock, dry creek beds and confined spots between boulders reward a coil you can place precisely, and the compact GM05 with its small detection footprint makes it easier to work tight areas and to isolate a small target near a mineralized rock or another piece of metal. The tradeoff is less ground covered per sweep, which slows you down on large open areas. Minelab also makes the GM10 10 x 6 inch elliptical Double-D coil for the GOLD MONSTER 1000, the one for broad, open ground with few obstacles, where each sweep covers more area, and in favorable conditions it may help on some larger or deeper targets. Matching the coil to the terrain matters more than having a favorite. More Minelab and aftermarket coils are in our metal detector coils collection.

Coil technique for small gold

Swing speed and coil height matter as much as settings on small gold. A tiny piece of gold may give only a faint response, and moving the coil too fast, or lifting it at the end of each swing, makes that response easy to miss. Keep a controlled sweep, overlap each pass and investigate signals that repeat from more than one direction. Even a small increase in the gap between coil and gold weakens the signal, so on uneven, rocky ground keep the coil as close to the surface as practical without scraping it hard across sharp rocks. A consistent coil height is the goal, and good technique can be just as important as the detector's settings.

Bedrock, creeks and water

Exposed bedrock is one of the places we think the GOLD MONSTER 1000 makes the most sense. Where erosion has opened cracks in a dry creek bed, small nuggets can lodge where moving water lost energy, and the detector's small gold sensitivity with the GM05 suits checking each crack. Along a shallow stream, gold-bearing gravel often collects around exposed bedrock and the coil may need to go into the water. The GM05 coil carries Minelab's 1 meter (3.3 feet) waterproof rating, while Minelab rates the control box splash and rain proof, so work with the coil in shallow water and the control box held above the waterline. The detector cannot tell you whether a crack holds gold; research the geology and mining history of an area and get permission before you detect.

Battery, weight and build

The GOLD MONSTER 1000 weighs 1.33 kg (2.94 lb) according to Minelab. The three-piece shaft screws together, collapses to 94.4 cm (37.2 inches) for the trip in and extends to 138.2 cm (54.4 inches) for detecting, and the Universal Shaft Adapter lets the control box and coil mount on an alternative shaft. That light weight is a comfort and convenience advantage on a long day carrying water and tools, rather than a performance feature. Power comes from rechargeable, removable lithium-ion batteries rated 7.2 V and 2700 mAh, and two of them come in the box. The box includes a universal AC adapter and a car battery charging cable, and the AA battery adapter takes 8 standard AA batteries when you are far from power; use the battery types and charging equipment Minelab specifies. The monochrome LCD shows the Gold Chance Indicator, battery level, sensitivity, volume and detect mode. Minelab gives an operating temperature range of 0 to 70 °C (32 to 158 °F).

Where the GOLD MONSTER 1000 works well, and where it does not

At 45 kHz the GOLD MONSTER 1000 runs a relatively high frequency for a metal detector, and high frequencies favor small, low-conductivity targets. Picture a dry creek bed where tiny nuggets may be present. Pieces too small to answer a coin detector strongly are what Minelab designed the GOLD MONSTER 1000 for. A high frequency does not guarantee every tiny nugget, though. Target size, shape, depth and mineralization still matter.

It is still a VLF detector. On an old goldfield with severe iron mineralization, a pulse induction detector such as the Minelab GPX 6000 or the Minelab SDC 2300 may be the more appropriate tool. Where a VLF system can work well, it remains an appealing choice for small gold. For parks, coins, jewelry and wet saltwater beaches, we would point you to a detector built for those jobs.

One mistake to avoid with the GOLD MONSTER 1000

The mistake we warn new owners about most is treating every positive Gold Chance reading as gold. Minelab describes the Gold Chance Indicator as a gauge that shifts right for valuable metals like gold and left for ferrous trash or hot rocks. It cannot tell an object's chemical composition. Lead, aluminum and other non-ferrous metals can give the same gold-like response, so a promising reading on an old goldfield that turns out to be a piece of lead is normal. Use the gauge to judge questionable targets among rusty iron, then recover the promising ones rather than trusting the display alone.

Stepping up: GOLD MONSTER 2000 or GPX 6000

Minelab also makes the Minelab GOLD MONSTER 2000, a separate, newer model built on what Minelab calls Multi-Au hybrid SMF-PI technology, with Echo Wave audio and a numeric Target ID. Prospectors who regularly work difficult mineralized ground may find those extra capabilities worth considering. Newer does not automatically mean better for you, though, and the GOLD MONSTER 1000 is still a straightforward, high-frequency VLF detector built for small natural gold. The Minelab GPX 6000 sits further up as a specialized detector for demanding, mineralized goldfields, with a very different investment and operating approach. We would not claim the GOLD MONSTER 1000 matches the GPX 6000 everywhere; they are designed for different prospecting needs, and the right choice depends on your ground and your budget.

Minelab GOLD MONSTER 1000 specifications

Minelab covers the GOLD MONSTER 1000 control box and coil with a 2-year limited warranty in the USA.

Serious Detecting bundle (added free at checkout):

• Serious Detecting Finds Bag with 42 inch Waist Belt
• Serious Detecting Carry Bag
• Serious Detecting Cap
• Double Serrated Hand Digger with Belt Holster

For our full GOLD MONSTER 1000 guide, settings advice and comparisons, see the Minelab GOLD MONSTER 1000 collection.