Hi Scot As for the coil, the best would be a 6 x 8 SEF coil, during a airtest it will pick up a 0.09 gram nuggie at 2 inches +, my 4000 does not see it. The e-trek is a very sensetive detector with the best dept, as we use it on old roman sites so full off nails and mineralisation, i cauld amagine you could use it on the less minerelised goldfields with a lot off iron, with a litle bit off disk, you wil have the advantage off not digging to much crap. Butt, for the deeper gold i would use a 4000 or 4500. The e-trek is the best general purpose detector at the moment. Kind regarts from Holland Gerrit