Treasure hunting in Russia is rapidly gaining popularity. Over the past few years, over two million metal detectors, sensors and other auxiliary equipment for excavations have been purchased in the Russian Federation. However, relatively recent legislative innovations prohibit the further activities of amateur archaeologists in the field of treasure hunting.

Citizens involved in the search for antiques and treasure hunting can be divided into 4 categories:

• Archaeologists - individuals authorized to carry out excavations and treasure hunting. Their activities are legalized by obtaining an open list (permit);
• search engines - illegal searchers who have metal detectors and other search equipment, reporting their findings to archaeologists;
• treasure hunters - avid collectors who study the archives of antiquity in order to find a treasure;
• Black diggers - offenders destroying the cultural layer protected by law for the purpose of illegal treasure hunting. Archaeological valuables stolen in this way from the state, including abroad, are sold.

Federal Law No. 245-FZ “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Regarding the Suppression of Illegal Activities in the Field of Archeology” was adopted by the State Duma on July 2. FZ-245 was approved by the Federation Council on July 10, 2013, and entered into force on July 23 of the same year.

This law was adopted, first of all, in the framework of the fight against black diggers. But the destructive incompetent actions of representatives of the second and third categories in the field of treasure hunting are also banned.

This normative act regulates the methods of granting state protection to objects of archaeological value. FZ-245 establishes changes in certain federal laws in order not to suppress illegal treasure hunting and appropriation of state treasures.

The last version of the valid Federal Law, nicknamed among the population as a "ban on metal detectors and treasure hunting" was implemented on October 22, 2016. Amendment abolished paragraph 3 of article 6.

What's New in the Law?

Previously, the activities of black seekers and amateur treasure hunters were not regulated by any legal act in the Russian Federation. And at the same time, the consequences of willful treasure hunting often entailed irreparable destruction of archaeological layers that have preserved a long history of human existence (more than 100 years). As a result, changes have to be made to Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

The provision of the new law on treasure hunting amended Law N 4804-1 "On the export and import of cultural property". According to Article 1 FZ-245, in relation to an attempt to illegally export objects of architectural or cultural value outside the Russian Federation, punishment is provided. The measure of responsibility for the specified violation is determined by the Russian legislation.

This Federal Law amends the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Code text added article 243.2, introducing new regulations regarding illegal treasure hunting. According to paragraph 1 said article, amateur treasure hunting is prohibited and the removal of cultural property found in the process from the ground or under the water column. The reason for the ban is the destruction of the cultural layer, which can be caused by the inept actions of amateur archaeologists.

If an act of illegal treasure hunting occurs on the territory of cultural monuments, citizens who commit a criminal act are subject to a fine equivalent to the amount of wages of the defendant for the biennium or imprisonment for up to 4 years ( Clause 1 of Article 243.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

A large fine in the amount of up to 1 million rubles or a punishment in the form of a stay in places of deprivation of liberty for up to 6 years is punishable by the relevant acts ( Clause 2 of Article 243.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation):

• Treasure hunting with the help of technical means, which include metal detectors and radars that allow you to determine the location of the metal treasure;
• Treasure search by an official exceeding his authority;
• Committed by a group of people who previously conspired to carry out illegal treasure hunting.

According to the provisions of the current new law on the use of a metal detector 245-FZ and the amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation introduced through its regulations, for carrying out archaeological work and treasure hunting, you need permission to organize these events - open sheet.

To get an open sheet the applicant must apply to the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. The regulation of circulation is carried out in accordance with Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of February 20, 2014 No. 127. The basis for obtaining a permit is documentation confirming the legal right of this citizen to take part in excavations as an archaeologist. Amateur treasure hunters are not issued a permit for treasure hunting with the help of a metal detector and other means of simplifying the search for objects of national cultural heritage.

Is it legal to search with a metal detector?

According to the current law on treasure hunting and article 243.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, the use of a metal detector, earth-digging machines and radars is strictly prohibited.

But the same article states that a strict ban is imposed on damage to the cultural layer, whose age is over 100 years. It is also punishable to conduct a search for objects, of cultural and archaeological value. It is not easy to prove that a person was engaged in an illegal search for archaeological objects at the time of detention. Thus, in order to present such an accusation to a citizen, good reasons are needed.

The use of a metal detector outside places of cultural value and the presence of ancient burials or cities, currently not regulated by any current federal law. But given the fact that now unexplored cultural layers can be anywhere in the Russian Federation, it is better to refrain from treasure hunting with a metal detector - to avoid breaking the law.

Download the law on treasure hunting in the Russian Federation

For a more detailed acquaintance with the amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in relation to treasure hunting, one should refer to the provision of the Federal Law “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation Regarding the Suppression of Illegal Activities in the Field of Archeology” N 245-FZ. The current text of FZ-245 can be downloaded at

In order to go into a scrap metal business, you need to know the basic tactics that should be applied to the collection of non-ferrous metal, as well as any other.

What is a scrap metal business?

1. Search and collection of scrap metal
2. Delivery of the collected material to the place of cutting
3. Scrap sorting by type and size
4. Safe storage until delivery
5. Sales and profit

Important! Before heading to the place of search for scrap, do not forget to make sure that what you are doing is legal. So, for example, it is impossible to go to the training ground of a military unit that has not yet been disbanded, the development of such places is prohibited, and the actions of unauthorized persons on them are criminally punishable.

Locations to find scrap metal

In order to find large volumes of metal and not waste hopelessly time, it is worth knowing the search location in advance. These places include:

fields. Often it is in abandoned fields that you can find broken machines, tractors, combines and trucks. What is only one track from the tractor caterpillar, which is the most found part. Agricultural machinery has large dimensions and when parts fail, workers repair it right in the fields. To avoid difficulties, broken parts were left on the side of the field - it is difficult to carry it further, and it is not safe to leave it on the field.

Enterprises. In almost every city there are old non-working enterprises that have remained partially abandoned and stolen. They often contain tons of buried copper, ferrous metal or aluminum.

Repair bases. Despite the fact that almost all closed and abandoned repair bases have long been found, and the metal has been removed, there are still those where no human has set foot after the closure. Finding such a place is a real success, which means that you will spend the next couple of days there. Their advantage lies in the fact that heavy equipment of large dimensions was repaired on them, and only one bolt found can pull half a kilogram. For convenience, broken parts and spare parts were put in one place, and not scattered in all corners.

Dump. If you do not know where to collect scrap metal in your city, go to a landfill. The landfill will be a great place to search, both for a beginner and a professional. At a landfill, a beginner can learn to understand the types of metal - ferrous and non-ferrous, so as not to hand it over by the total mass at the price of ferrous metal. The disadvantage of the landfill is an unpleasant smell, especially on a hot summer day, but the plus is that with hard work, scrap metal can still be collected in the landfill.

Territory of abandoned ranges and shooting ranges. In such a territory, you can find a lot of finds, ranging from shell casings of large-caliber guns to targets and copies of dummies of tanks. It is on abandoned landfills that you can find a lot of scrap metal, in the search for which you can not do without a special device (especially in the search for shells).

Important! Experts recommend coming to the search site in early spring. At this time, the snow had already melted, and the ground had not yet had time to overgrow with a high layer of grass.

If the field becomes the search place, it is in the spring that you will not run into agricultural workers and will not cause trouble to each other.

Nonferrous metal. What does it contain?

For some, the process of searching for and handing over scrap metal will seem like a frivolous matter, but if you find out the cost of non-ferrous metal scrap at collection points, you can be pleasantly surprised. Unlike ferrous metal, the price of non-ferrous metal scrap is much higher - a business with it can give a person a carefree existence.

Important! Anyone who specializes in finding metal tries to look for non-ferrous scrap metal. So, for example, copper is the most expensive, its price reaches 300 rubles per 1 kg.

Which devices contain non-ferrous metal:

• Refrigerators. It is this household appliance that ranks first in terms of the amount of non-ferrous metal content. So, in engines you can find from 1.5 to 3 kg of copper, and extract up to 1 kg of aluminum from the freezer. Do not forget about special cooling tubes, which also contain copper alloys. It is necessary to deal with the analysis and extraction of non-ferrous metal very carefully, because the product contains toxic gas.
• TVs. Experienced metal detectors extract up to 1.5 kg of copper from old tube TVs, and only about 0.5 kg from semiconductor devices. There is no aluminum in them, but there are expensive capacitors and resistors.
• Washing machines. If you disassemble this household appliance, you can also find an impressive amount of copper, zinc and aluminum.

Do not forget about more industrial products from which you can get non-ferrous metal. These include: transformers and old electric motors, starting devices, fluorescent lamps, electrical wires and more.

The search for non-ferrous metal should be carried out precisely at abandoned industrial enterprises, where work was carried out thanks to machine tools and valves, in taps, valves, and other mechanisms that contain a good amount of brass, bronze and other copper alloys.

Search tools

It's good when the process of searching and collecting comes down to immersing huge metal parts into the body, but sometimes the parts are invisible or small and must first be found. In this case, you can not do without auxiliary equipment. For this use:

• metal detectors
• search magnets

It is impossible to do without a metal detector in the search for non-ferrous metals in the ground, for this it is not necessary to buy an expensive model, the most important thing is that it has such functions as:

• Adjustment of sensitivity, search depth and tonality
• Reacting to different types of metals and switching to their modes

You need to search for scrap metal with a metal detector close to the soil and nearby on the sides. After the device has detected the metal and gave a sound signal, you need to look at the display indicators and start detecting.

Important! If you go hunting with a metal detector, check the charge level of the device or take a set of spare batteries.

Another effective tool in the search for metal is a special search magnet. It is mainly used to search for scrap on rivers, ponds, lakes, wells and fountains. It is on the reservoirs that it is better to search with a magnet. Its way of working is to remagnetize metal mining in an easy and convenient way.

Non-ferrous scrap metal mining

After you have found scrap on your own or with the help of tools, you can proceed directly to the cop. A good cop will need a few essential tools:

• Cutting tool. Sometimes scrap is so impressive that it needs to be cut to transport it. In this case, you can use a grinder, scissors for cutting metal, a circular or reciprocating saw.
• Analyzer. Thanks to this device, you will certainly know what type of metal the object is made of. This device is useful for sorting scrap, but its cost is very high and not everyone can afford such a device.
• Loading devices and transport. Regardless of the location of the search for scrap, transport is indispensable. On it, the collected scrap metal is delivered to the place of sorting and storage of the found, and then to the collection point.

The collection of scrap metal is gaining momentum every year and is becoming a fairly profitable business. The most popular is non-ferrous metal scrap, as its raw materials are the most expensive. In order to maximize the benefit from the chosen business, you must first choose a place where to look for scrap metal and take related tools.

You can make a significant contribution to the family budget by taking up, as it seems to many, not a very serious occupation - searching for scrap metal. Collecting metal, especially non-ferrous, is quite a profitable business.

Where to look for scrap metal?

Only options for additional earnings that do not conflict with the law will be considered.

It is important to understand that the collection of scrap metal is not easy, and sometimes unsafe activities.

landfills

Landfills where waste is stored are a dumping ground for old household appliances, various spare parts, from which a large amount of valuable metals is mined. The big disadvantages of working at such facilities: unsanitary conditions, an abundance of garbage in which you have to dig, not a very pleasant smell. To visit landfills, you need to stock up on shoes with thick soles and high insteps, otherwise there is a risk of injury from protruding nails.

abandoned fields

Abandoned bases, enterprises

When choosing where to collect scrap metal, you should pay attention to these facilities, especially to repair bases. They often contain the remains of equipment, spare parts, cable segments. But idle enterprises left unattended are not so easy to find today.

shooting ranges

At abandoned ranges, there is a high probability of profiting from the shells of large-caliber guns.

The area around power plants

With a good combination of circumstances, it is possible to find an unusable cable or transformers.

Where can you get ferrous and non-ferrous metals?

Ferrous metals, which include iron and cast iron, are not so difficult to find. The collection of various types of pipes, fittings, radiators, bathtubs or risers does not present any particular problems. It will only take physical strength to carry them and transport. Reception points will also be happy to purchase stainless steel. Drums of washing machines, heating elements or old-style freezers are made from it.

With the search for non-ferrous metal, the situation is much more complicated.

Copper

This metal is one of the most valuable. Its source is starters and generators, relays, magnetic starters, refrigerator compressors, lamp TV transformers. Copper can be mined from the fittings of fluorescent lamps thrown away by factories.

Aluminum

Large amounts of aluminum are mined in washing machines and freezers.

Lead

Such metal is found in batteries or cable sheaths.

Bronze and brass

These alloys are used to make gears for gears, shower pipes, water valves, etc.

If you have an expensive metal detector, it becomes possible to try your hand not only in searching for buried copper, but also for precious metals, for example, on beaches, where cases of losing rings and chains are not uncommon. It is even more exciting to look for treasures in abandoned estates or fortresses with such a tool. This rather exotic type of activity will allow you to get a considerable income.

Inventory used in the search

In order for the search to bring significant profit, it is necessary to provide certain technical equipment. You will need a vehicle, preferably with a trailer. For transporting heavy scrap metal, a trolley will be a good help. It will help deliver metal from places where a car cannot reach. A first aid kit will not be superfluous at all, because the search is fraught with the risk of injury.

For the extraction of valuable metals, you can not do without:

• metal detectors with the function of recognizing certain types of metal and switching the sensor to search for them, adjusting the sensitivity;
• a search magnet, which is useful for searching for scrap in a pond;
• tool for cutting scrap (this can be a grinder, saw or metal shears for grinding large scrap);
• metal type analyzer, which will help in sorting;
• portable substation for power tools.

When dismantling scrap metal, be sure to work with gloves and goggles. It is not recommended to disassemble closed containers, as an explosive substance may be inside.

Tactics for collecting metals

First you need to decide on a place to search for scrap metal. After that, you need to carefully consider the equipment and make sure you have the necessary equipment.

The most important stage of work is the sorting of the found metal, its processing. To get the maximum benefit from mining, you should:

• remove pollution;
• divide metal by type;
• disassemble large parts into parts using a cutting tool;
• clean scrap from insulation and other non-metallic parts.

After such processing, scrap metal can be handed over to a collection point and receive earned money or continue to accumulate up to a more impressive batch, if conditions permit.

When handing over scrap metal to a collection point, there is an interesting nuance: its purchase price is subject to serious seasonal fluctuations: in autumn and winter it is significantly higher than in the summer months. The reason for this phenomenon is the difficulty in finding and removing scrap in the autumn-winter period. If possible, available non-ferrous metals are recommended to be stored for some time and handed over during price increases.

By collecting scrap metal, especially non-ferrous types, using the necessary equipment and carrying out its competent processing, it is possible to turn an exciting hobby in the form of searching with a metal detector into a source of good income.