It is totally normal to find yourself asking all sorts of questions about your metal detector and its abilities to find all sorts of items …
… In this Website, I’ve published a ton of articles addressing those kinds of questions! In this article I will talk about Cobalt which is a chemical element …
… Indeed, I found that people actually ask if a regular detector can find it or not!
Let’s find out.
Do metal detectors detect Cobalt?
It is rare to find cobalt in its pure form, especially with a standard metal detector. Yes, some detectorists have reported finding cobalt-chrome jewelry, but I have yet to personally verify these kinds of stories …
… This issue here with cobalt is 2 things:
- Its rarity: Unless you are allowed to use your machine in places close to mines where you can find elements in their pure form your chances will be significantly low.
- Electrical conductivity: I’ve made some researches to check whether cobalt has any electrical conductivity and I didn’t find even one source that confirm that. Thus, unless it is allowed with other metallic elements, your detector won’t be able to find it.
What Metal Detector to use to find Cobalt?
As I’ve just said finding cobalt in its raw form won’t be possible with any regular detector! However, if you are looking for it alloyed with other metals or in jewelry, then a standard regular detector like the Bounty Hunter Tracker 4 (Check it Here at Amazon) is more than enough to do the job …
… Indeed, I always recommend this model to beginners for many reasons:
- It is definitely cheap.
- Very easy and intuitive to use.
- Has a decent discrimination that will allow you to filter junk.
- Comes with a waterproof, very useful if you are intending using it in shallow water.
What valuable finds are made out of Cobalt?
Nowadays, you can find some jewelry made from cobalt alloys. While they are priced quite high, they are actually termed as non-precious jewelry.
Other than that, there are some decorative glass that’s painted with cobalt blue that could be quite valuable if you are interested in these sorts of stuff! However, you won’t be able to find it with a detector (I talk about detecting glass in this post, check it out to learn more)
Is Cobalt valuable?
In most cases I would say not really, yet cobalt jewelry can fetch quite a nice amount of money if found in good condition.
How to identify Cobalt?
Cobalt comes in a silver-gray color in its pure form. However, for jewelry made from cobalt allow they appear like titanium and weighs like tungsten.
They are also highly resistant to corrosion! That’s why it is used in so many applications, like dental implants and even aircraft engines.
Places where you can find Cobalt Finds
If you are looking for it in its pure form, I wouldn’t advice for that unless you are close to mines known by such elements.
However, when it comes to alloys, then it could be found pretty much anywhere from parks, beaches, and other crowded places.
Conclusion
Hope this short post gave you some answers to your questions! If any more questions, please don’t hesitate to let me know …
… Finally, if you are just starting out, I highly invite you to have a look at this metal detecting beginner guide! You will learn a lot of highly valuable information.