Minelab GPX 6000 Metal Detector with GPX 17 Coil

The Minelab GPX 6000 with an added Minelab GPX 17 elliptical Monoloop coil gives a prospector all three GPX 6000 coils, from the GPX 11 for small gold to the GPX 17 for broad, open ground. The GPX 6000 runs on Minelab GeoSense-PI pulse induction with the GPX 11 Monoloop and GPX 14 Double-D coils, and Minelab rates the coils submersible to 1 meter (3.3 feet) while the detector itself is splash and rain proof.

What is in the box with this Minelab GPX 6000 bundle

Minelab's standard contents for the GPX 6000 (Minelab part 3300-0500)

• Minelab GPX 6000 detector
• GPX 11 11 inch round Monoloop coil
• GPX 14 14 inch round Double-D coil
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack, 7.4 V, 5833 mAh
• AC plug pack charger
• Car battery charging cable with crocodile clips
• ML 100 Bluetooth wireless headphones with detachable cable and USB charging cable

This Minelab GPX 6000 bundle also includes

• Minelab GPX 17 17 x 13 inch elliptical Monoloop coil (Minelab part 3011-0427)

What the add-ons in this Minelab GPX 6000 bundle do

GPX 17 coil: Minelab rates the GPX 17 17 x 13 inch elliptical Monoloop its top performer for big, deep nuggets in less conductive soil, covering a lot of ground quickly, and like every GPX 6000 coil it is submersible to 1 meter (3.3 feet). We would not fit it everywhere: its size makes it harder to work around rocks and vegetation, and a big coil can pick up more ground noise and interference. We would keep the GPX 11 on for broken, rocky ground and small gold near the surface, and fit the GPX 17 on broad, open ground where the targets are spread out. More coils are in our metal detector coils collection.

About the Minelab GPX 6000

We see the GPX 6000 as a pulse induction gold detector that does much of the hard work for you. Gold ground keeps changing: mineralization shifts over a few steps, electrical interference comes and goes, and nuggets of different sizes respond differently. Minelab's GeoSense-PI analyzes ground and target signals in real time to keep the threshold stable and the responses sharp in mineralized soil, and automatic ground balance and Noise Cancel adjust as you detect. We do not sell it as the deepest Minelab gold detector for every nugget; what sets it apart is capable pulse induction detection with simple operation and interchangeable coils.

Minelab GPX 6000 ground, sensitivity and noise settings

• Ground Type: Difficult is the default, meant for ground with medium to high mineralization or rapid changes underfoot; Normal suits ground that gives little response. We would start on Difficult and move to Normal only where the ground stays quiet.
• Quick-Trak: the detector tracks the ground automatically, and when you move onto a different type of ground, holding the Quick-Trak trigger while raising and lowering the coil recalibrates it quickly. Do it over ground you believe is free of metal, never over a suspected target.
• Sensitivity: manual levels 1 to 10 plus Auto (level 11) and Auto+ (level 12). Minelab recommends Auto for most users and Auto+ where electromagnetic interference and ground noise are low. In difficult ground a stable detector is easier to read than one running flat out.
• Noise Cancel: runs automatically at start up and on demand when interference becomes noticeable. Strong interference can still call for less sensitivity, the Double-D coil or moving away from the source.

Minelab GPX 6000 coils

The GPX 11 11 inch round Monoloop is Minelab's general purpose coil, suited to most conditions, strong on smaller nuggets and easy to maneuver; it is where we would start unless the ground argues for something else. The GPX 14 14 inch round Double-D is a different design rather than a bigger Monoloop: it is Minelab's coil for heavy electromagnetic interference and very conductive, salty soil, and it unlocks two modes, EMI Cancel and Conductive Ground Cancel. Minelab advises a Double-D only when good results cannot be had with a Monoloop, so we treat those modes as tools for difficult conditions, not automatic upgrades. Minelab also makes the GPX 17 17 x 13 inch elliptical Monoloop for larger, deep nuggets and broad open ground.

Water, weight and power

Minelab rates every GPX 6000 coil submersible to 1 meter (3.3 feet), with care to keep the coil connector out of the water, while the detector itself is splash and rain proof only. In a shallow creek the coil can go under, but the control box and the battery pack stay above the waterline. The detector weighs 2.1 kg (4.6 lb) with the GPX 11 coil and its three piece carbon fiber shaft packs down to 67 cm (26.5 inches) with the coil and armrest still fitted. The removable 7.4 V, 5833 mAh lithium-ion pack runs about 8 hours, and audio comes through the built-in loudspeaker, wired 3.5 mm headphones or the ML 100 wireless headphones with aptX Low Latency.

Where the Minelab GPX 6000 fits, and where it does not

The GPX 6000 suits prospectors searching mineralized goldfields that hold a range of nugget sizes, including ground that has produced gold for years, where small pieces and deeper targets may remain after the obvious nuggets are gone. Historical research remains essential, and search technique, ground conditions and earlier coverage all decide what is left. It is not a coin detector. It gives no numerical target ID or coin discrimination, so in a park full of foil, bottle caps and coins it responds to almost everything. For rocky creek beds and work under water, see the fully waterproof Minelab SDC 2300.

Getting started with the Minelab GPX 6000

Charge the battery fully before the first trip and pair the ML 100 headphones. Minelab suggests holding the coil about 100 mm (4 inches) above the ground when you switch on, then starting on Auto sensitivity with the GPX 11 coil. Learn how Ground Type and Quick-Trak change what you hear before adjusting anything else.

Minelab GPX 6000 specifications

Minelab covers the GPX 6000 control box and coil with a 3-year limited warranty in the USA.

Serious Detecting bundle (added free at checkout):

• Lil' Digger Double Serrated Shovel
• 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 GPX 6000 guide, settings advice and comparisons, see the Minelab GPX 6000 collection.