Metal Detecting

Got a good signal the type of signal that could be a chopped up coke can at depth.
So I dug down through the wet clay soil to a depth deeper than 12" . At that point I started to hit a solid chalk layer . Does the Deus give a good signal response to compacted chalk ? or is there another metal object down there somewhere ?

Had a similar problem a few years back in another field I kept digging deeper and deeper but only found chalk so gave up .

Should I go back to this new signal and try deeper ? I have marked the spot in the field

I would leave it. The chalk layer sounds natural to me. Perhaps there's something like a pipe running under it? Just a guess (not an expert in these things, or in anything for that matter)

If the signal was good such as a coke can then there should be a metallic object there. You sometimes get a "ghost" signal but this is nowhere near as prominent as one when encountering a coke can. We've surveyed lots of chalk areas but never experienced such a strong signal that has "disappeared".
If the target isn't located precisely then a probe will miss it as it as will be too far from the probe.
Good luck on your next dig.

Best
Paul

Thanks for your thoughts next time I am there I will widen the hole size and have another look.

The signal sounded like part of a coke can at depth or horse shoe maybe ? The signal was still there even after digging the soil out.

Could be a possible drain pipe run .

I dug one of those Ghost signals a few weeks back and got down to a drain system that was hard work

I detect a lot around old chalk quarry areas, the Deus does not detect chalk, sounds like you have some deep Iron going on there, or something stuck in the side of the hole.