detecting metal (curiosity question)

whats the simplest way using a pic to detect metal at a distance of about 1cm, is there a simple way using say a coil of some description?
i had a discussion with someone and it got me thinking about how you would go about doing it. i tried google for simple metal detectors but to be honest they seemed a bit sophisticated and i wondered if there is a simple way to detect metal in close proximity

Hi Jason,
Have a look at this one - NEW:: picoDetector : How to detect metal with a PIC

HTH.

cheers mick thats realy interesting, any idea what the component to the left of the coil is? and whats the function of it? actualy the conversation i had was reagrding detecting model trains. so something along the lines of that link would be idea

Left of the coil? I see two small capacitors.

Hi Jason,
the 'component' to the left of the coil is actually a pair of 15pF capacitors, labelled C1 & C2 on the schematic.
The vid is shot from an angle which allows them to sorta merge together...

Hope you're mending well,
Kind regards,
Mick.

cheers mick, i am slowly on the mend thanks, my eyesight was hit pretty bad in one eye and i strugle to see some things propely lol i had idea what it was on the left it looked odd to me. even now i know they are caps i still cant see caps man its off to specsavers for me in the morning lol