Metal treasures: the thrill of the hunt

MOSES LAKE - The reward for most park visitors is simply the beauty of the changing leaves and the crisp air. Some Moses Lake residents are looking for a greater reward.

Husband and wife, Rafa and Olga Diez use metal detectors in McCosh Park to find jewelry, coins, or other treasures.

Olga Diez said they took up the hobby at her husband's insistence. She said they bought metal detectors and accessories from White's Detectors dealer Sylvester "Cal" Calvin, and have also taken the equipment around Ephrata, Quincy and Soap Lake.

"It's a good way to spend your time," Olga Diez said. She said the couple dabbles in other metal prospecting activities, like gold panning at rivers.

This day was not a profitable one, with only a few new pennies in their pocket. That is not to say it is never a good day. Olga Diez wears a thick silver band on her finger she found in McCosh Park, and the couple recently got an earring they found in Soap Lake confirmed as a real diamond. They plan to sell the earring.

Calvin said hunting for treasure with a metal detector is "real popular." He said his trade magazines estimate more than 200,000 people hunt in Washington state. The man who just found more than 30 ounces of gold, was featured in another news report, with a metal detector.

Calvin's treasure shop is located off Patton Boulevard, and there he displays and keeps safe much of what he finds. He finds rings, watches, necklaces, bracelets, coins, tools, toys like Hot Wheels cars, gold flakes and meteorites. He said meteorites are very popular right now, as they can be worth up to $40,000 per ounce.

"I don't do it for the money," Calvin said, "I do it for the hunt."

He also finds a lot of garbage, drug paraphernalia and costume jewelry.

A few weeks ago, Calvin found a set of car keys in McCosh Park. If you lost your keys there in that time frame, please call Shawn Cardwell at the Columbia Basin Herald at 509-765-4561, ext. 153.