Tools for Detecting and Digging

Metal Detectors

• Metal detectors are used for finding subsurface items. Inside the metal detector is a coil, and once an electric current is plied to the coil, it generates a magnetic field that can find buried metal up to a specific depth, depending upon the power of the detector.

Ground-penetrating Radar

• Ground-penetrating radar is a tool useful for archaeological excavations as it can profile the depths of different underground layers. Scientists use this to look down through the ground to find long-buried city walls and dinosaur bones without disturbing the earth. This allows for more precise digging that lessens the danger of damage to ruins and artifacts. Mining companies also use ground-penetrating radar to find existing caverns and tunnels and look for rock faults that might cause a collapse.

Shovel and Auger

• For digs close to the surface, a shovel is often sufficient for the job. Casual treasure hunters carry shovels or small spades to unearth trinkets from the ground. When the ground is dry and difficult to dig, an auger can be used to make the soil more malleable. Augers work, essentially, as drills boring into the earth and loosening hard-packed soil.

Backhoe

• Larger mining operations require more involved digging tools. Backhoes are a staple of the construction industry and can facilitate a dig far quicker than a single shovel or team of men. This piece of heavy equipment has a long arm, or boom, extending from its rear with a large scoop at the end. The machine operator uses extendable supports to brace the backhoe on the ground and sends the scoop into the dirt. Depending on the size of the machine, backhoes can have a digging depth anywhere from 14 feet to 20 feet, which allows them to quickly clear away large amounts of material in a short time.