The search coil creates an electromagnetic field. A metal target responds, and the detector measures that response and turns it into sound or a display indication. Detecting gold does not require gold to be attracted to a magnet.
How a metal detector turns a coil response into a signal
Think of the coil as part of a sending-and-listening system. The electronics create a field and look for a response associated with nearby metal. A detector then presents the result as audio, a target number or another indication.
The signal depends on the target as well as its surroundings. Conductivity, shape, size, depth, orientation and mineralised ground can all affect what you hear.
Why metal detector target ID is only a clue
A number on the display is not a chemical analysis. Different materials can produce similar responses, and a deep or awkwardly positioned target may read differently from a clean test object near the surface. Gold jewellery can share a signal range with common rubbish.
How magnet fishing differs from metal detecting
A retrieval magnet supplies physical attraction to suitable magnetic material. It has no target display. A detector can respond to non-ferromagnetic metal without pulling it out of the ground. That distinction explains why a gold detector and a fishing magnet cannot replace one another.
Common questions
How does a metal detector work if gold is not magnetic?
A detector uses a coil to create an electromagnetic field and senses a target response. It does not need to physically attract the object. Target tones and identification numbers help interpret the response but do not prove the object is gold.
Sources & further reading
Community questions inform the topics. Official sources support rules; manufacturer information is not a hands-on test.
- Minelab: how metal detectors workManufacturer technical education
- Garrett: can metal detectors detect gold?Manufacturer technical education