The Mineral Prospector scans a large range, a massive 45x45x45 centered on the clicked block, but only for non-metal ores.
A mold for the tool head can be knapped from clay, as seen above, which can be used to cast low tier metals.
Recipe: precisionprospecting:anvil/metal/mineral_prospector/black_steel
A Mineral Prospector Head can also be smithed out of a double ingot of any tool metal. Craft the head with a stick to make a Mineral Prospector.