A standard metal detector can usually detect metals in general, but without distinguishing specific types of metal. That is, the detector detects the presence of metal, but cannot indicate which metal it is. However, professional and advanced detector models like Pulse Induction (PI) detectors have features like discrimination or tonality discrimination that can help you distinguish metal types. It is advisable to familiarize yourself with the features and capabilities of your specific detector model in order to get the most out of your search results.