This is one of those very simple magic items, but one that has such an atypical power that it makes me wonder what sorts of interesting uses one could put it to. Like most wands, it carries 2d10 charges and is usable only by MU/Elves. It has a very short description as well.
I find it a nice touch that this method of detection involves the wand physically pointing in the metal's direction. I suspect that it was originally imagined as tugging in the user's hand, but I like to picture setting on the floor and letting it spin like a compass needle."This item will point towards any mass of metal weighing 1,000 coins or more if within 20'. The user can detect the type of metal."
Interestingly, the wand has a very limited range. How often is a hundred pounds of metal within half a dozen paces and you can't already see it? This is highly tailored to dungeon crawling, where the treasure may be behind a secret door or a wall or similar.
Lastly, the user knows the type of metal as well. A thousand coin worth of iron or copper? It might not be worth tracking down. Gold or platinum? That's a different story.
The description also describes the detected metals as "a mass." This could be interpreted to exempt things like a scattering of miscellaneous metal objects like rusted weapons lying about a room or even a man in a suit of plate armor with shield and weapons (and maybe 100 gp or so in a pouch to round it off).
It's a pity thieves can't use the wand, it would be a great tool for a cat burglar searching a room for the hidden loot.
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