If you are interested in the effects of ground minerals on detectors this is a must read!!!!!

[BarnacleBill]

The following demining test report is a great primer on how minerals effect the depth of both PI's & VLF's(Continuous Wave). Some of it gets quite technical, but even if you're a newbie it would make a good download and save for future reference as you learn more.

Be warned it is 100+ pages, but makes a delicious geek meal like a fine Angus Beef, or Roo-Ka-Bob if you live on that Southern Continent.

http://www.itep.ws/pdf/Interim_Final_Moz201205_02_web_optimized.pdf

HH
BarnacleBill

 

[Digger]

Interesting read. We sometimes get so wrapped up in finding coins, gold or relics that we forget the other applications for detectors. These units are an integral part of daily "life and death" applications.

The variances in the ground mineralization at this test lab were dramatic. It was interesting to note the consistency of both Minelab units across all levels of mineralization, in comparison to the other makes and models. Most of the models lost sensitivity as they encountered more mineralization, with the exception of the two Minelab models. They both actually gained sensitivity in the most highly mineralized conditions. It was also apparent that Minelab engineered these units to provide maximum sensitivity over the entire spectrum of mineralization as opposed to some models that obviously concentrated on individual conditions.

The F1A4 is described as a pulse, dynamic mode detector, using a unipolar waveform. It offers multiple pulse-width technology for improved soil compensation. It also provides different audible signals for the detector status as well as for target classification. Reading this makes me wonder where the Hobby Division of Minelab will evolve? Having a PI detector with GB and TID would be HUGE!!!


One other statement that caught my attention was the lack of settling (or compaction) of the soil used at each test target. At first I wondered if soil compaction would have an effect on the depth of detection. But then I thought...... in the real world, who is going to volunteer to tamp down a land mine???

Thanks again Bill. With your permission, I would like to link this up to the FAQFAQ section. Let me know.

HH Randy

 

[BarnacleBill]

Hi Randy,

I also noted the non-compact conditions, but then figured heh, they are all being tested in the same strata, and also there is some mention of settling in the soil section at the end.

But what really caught my attention was that in certain circumstances objects were detected further away in the soil than in an air test. I thought the way the air vs soil was graphed for the same targets was brilliant. But it certainly raises some questions about air testing, especially since these are freshly buried targets with no "halo" (attn: Jackpine Savage you are being baited).

But as I was reading the report one word kept coming to mind.....parrott....parrott.....parrott. Ol' parrott would pour milk on this stuff and eat it like corn flakes for breakfast!!!!! I am sure he'd glean a lot more from this material than we novices that don't know a chunk of granite from a piece of kryptonite!!!

HH
BarnacleBill

 

[Jackpine Savage]

Which side of the debate do you want me to take this time Bill?

I do believe in the Tooth Fairy. In fact with the price of gold where it is the other day I pulled a crown out and put it under my pillow!

Tom

 

[RonNH]

Even though they tested the Minelab minesweepers, it seems that the technical experience has filtered down to the hobby machines. That's what makes Minelabs good and deep, they have the mineral rejection problem figured out better than the rest of the industry. Somewhere I read that the effects of ground mineralization were 1,000 times stronger (and louder) than the average target. It made me realize how much work a machine has to do to single out a target from the ground matrix. No wonder we get falsing and sometimes dig and have nothing there.

Oh...I didn't read much of the manual but looked at the pictures. Now at least I know what a land mine looks like!!

Good work, Bill

 

[BarnacleBill]

How about we flip a crown to decide? Just make sure you brush it first!!!

HH
BarnacleBill