Minelab GPZ 7000 and GOLD MONSTER 1000 Gold Detector Bundle with GM05 Coil

The Minelab GPZ 7000 and Minelab GOLD MONSTER 1000 with GM05 coil pair a deep-seeking ZVT detector with a light 45 kHz VLF detector for an experienced prospector who wants larger, deeper nuggets and small natural gold from the same goldfields. The GPZ 7000 runs on Minelab Zero Voltage Transmission with the GPZ14 Super-D coil, the GOLD MONSTER 1000 adds Easy-Trak automatic ground balance and the Gold Chance Indicator, and Minelab rates the GPZ14 and the GOLD MONSTER 1000 coils waterproof to 1 meter (3.3 feet).

What is in the box with this Minelab GPZ 7000 bundle

Minelab's standard contents for the GPZ 7000 (Minelab part 3301-0003)

• Minelab GPZ 7000 detector
• GPZ14 14 inch round Super-D search coil with skidplate
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack, 7.2 V, 72 Wh
• BC 10 battery charger
• Universal charging cable kit
• Car battery charging cable
• WM 12 wireless audio module
• KOSS UR-30 wired headphones, 100 ohm, 6.35 mm (1/4 inch) plug
• PRO-SWING 45 harness
• Swing arm

This Minelab GPZ 7000 bundle also includes

• Minelab GOLD MONSTER 1000 with GM05 coil (Minelab part 3317-0005), with the standard contents listed below

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

What the Minelab GOLD MONSTER 1000 adds to the GPZ 7000

The GOLD MONSTER 1000 works the other end of the nugget size range. Minelab runs it on a single 45 kHz VLF frequency with 24-bit signal processing, and a high frequency like that favors small, low-conductivity targets such as tiny nuggets, which give weak responses. Where the GPZ 7000 emphasizes specialized deep gold detection, the GOLD MONSTER 1000 suits small natural gold in exposed bedrock, dry creek beds and rocky ground. Easy-Trak automatic ground balance, automatic noise cancel and Auto or Auto+ sensitivity, plus ten manual levels, handle most of its setup. We would not promise that 45 kHz finds every small nugget: size, shape, orientation, mineralization and the coil all change the signal.

• Detect modes: Gold (Iron Reject) reduces unwanted ferrous signals on iron-littered ground, while Deep All-Metal accepts a broader range of metal responses, which we would consider on a promising goldfield with little modern trash.
• Gold Chance Indicator: the gauge leans toward valuable metals like gold or toward ferrous trash and hot rocks. Lead, brass, copper and aluminum can read the same way as gold, so treat it as a clue and dig uncertain signals that repeat in known gold ground.
• GM05 coil: the GM05 5 inch round Double-D coil works into small crevices, exposed bedrock and the gaps between rocks, and its small footprint helps with small targets near mineralized rocks or other metal. The tradeoff is less ground covered per sweep on large open areas.
• Water, weight and power: Minelab rates the GOLD MONSTER 1000 GM05 coil waterproof to 1 meter (3.3 feet) and its control box splash and rain proof, so keep that control box above the waterline too. It weighs 1.33 kg (2.94 lb), volume runs from 1 to 6, and it runs on removable 7.2 V, 2700 mAh lithium-ion batteries, two of them in the box, or on 8 AA batteries in the AA battery adapter.

About the Minelab GPZ 7000

We see the GPZ 7000 as a specialized system built around one of the hardest jobs in natural gold prospecting: finding gold at depth in mineralized ground. Many goldfields have been worked for decades and the easy targets are gone, yet larger nuggets can still sit beyond the reach of the equipment used there before. Minelab built the GPZ 7000 around Zero Voltage Transmission (ZVT), the GPZ14 Super-D coil and precision ground balance for exactly that kind of ground. It is more than a detector with a big coil, but we would not claim it finds every nugget deeper than every other Minelab detector; target size, ground conditions, coil and technique decide the result.

Minelab states that ZVT gives up to 40 percent more depth than its earlier GPX Series detectors. Read that as Minelab's own comparison, not a promise for every nugget: the size, shape and orientation of the gold and the mineralization between coil and target all change the response. Minelab's Getting Started Guide pairs the Extra Deep mode with deep, large nuggets, and medium and larger nuggets are where we think the GPZ 7000 is most interesting.

Minelab GPZ 7000 Ground Type, Gold Mode and key settings

• Ground Type: Minelab matches Normal to low soil mineralization, Difficult to high mineralization and Severe to severe mineralization. Normal can give more depth on mild soil; when the detector turns unstable on hot ground, Difficult may give more usable operation. We would not pick Severe by default, because more aggressive ground handling can cost target response.
• Gold Mode: High Yield for small and medium nuggets, General for general nuggets and Extra Deep for deep, large nuggets. Extra Deep is not automatically the right mode because of its name; a setting aimed at large, deep targets may not suit small gold, so we would choose the mode by expected target size and ground.
• Ground balance: automatic tracking plus manual options, and the Quick-Trak trigger rebalances without interrupting your search. Tracking will not silence every hot rock, so follow Minelab's ground balance procedure when you walk into noticeably different ground.
• Sensitivity, noise and audio: sensitivity and volume each run from 1 to 20, Noise Cancel works automatically or manually across 256 channels, and audio reaches you through the supplied KOSS UR-30 headphones on the 6.35 mm socket or wirelessly through the WM 12 module.
• GPSi: the built-in GPS logs WayPoints, FindPoints and GeoHunt paths, and Minelab's XChange 2 software for PC shows them on Google Maps, which helps you return to a productive patch and see what you have already covered. It does not replace proper maps, navigation tools and safety planning on remote ground.

Using the Minelab GPZ 7000 around water

Minelab rates the GPZ14 coil waterproof to 1 meter (3.3 feet), while the GPZ 7000 detector itself is weatherproof only, built for rain and wet conditions. According to Minelab, the detector, the WM 12 and the headphones must not be immersed. In a shallow creek or wet wash, put the coil in the water within its rating and keep the control box above the waterline; a waterproof coil does not make the whole detector waterproof.

Minelab GPZ 7000 weight, battery and harness

Minelab lists the GPZ 7000 at 3.32 kg (7.32 lb) with the GPZ14 coil, skidplate and 72 Wh battery, which is substantial for a handheld detector. Over a long day swinging uphill across rocky ground, weight and balance matter, so we treat the PRO-SWING 45 harness in the box as part of the system; someone used to a lightweight detector may need time to adjust. The removable 7.2 V, 72 Wh lithium-ion pack runs at least eight hours with GPS, backlight and wireless switched on, and the BC 10 charger runs from the supplied AC plug pack or from a 12 V car or 24 V truck system.

One mistake to avoid with the Minelab GPZ 7000

The mistake we warn new owners about is reaching for the most aggressive settings straight away. On mineralized ground the detector gets unstable, the operator raises sensitivity and picks the mode meant for maximum depth, and the machine gets noisier still, burying the faint genuine signals. Begin with Minelab's suggested settings, get the detector stable, then change one setting at a time. A stable detector is usually more useful than one at maximum sensitivity producing constant false signals.

Minelab GPZ 7000 specifications

Minelab covers the GPZ 7000 control box and coil with a 3-year warranty in the USA.

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):

• 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 GPZ 7000 guide, settings advice and comparisons, see the Minelab GPZ 7000 collection.