Magnetometers are built for Engineers, Geophysicists, Geologists, Archaeologist, Scientists, and Military Personnel
to detect, map, and delineate variations in magnetic fields. We experience the earth’s magnetic field on a daily basis. Though often very small, everything has a magnetic field. This site is about magnetometers that are used to measure variations in magnetic fields on the order of 0.1 to 10,000’s nT. These magnetometers are generally used to map changes in magnetic fields that are found outdoors.
Magnetometers, as with electromagnetic methods (see GeonicsRental.com), have two basic categories of use. There is the near surface metal detection survey for iron and then there is the mapping of more subtle variations generally associated with the geology. Metal detection often involves strong localized magnetic fields from objects made of iron, the type of iron that a magnet would stick to. Locating buried drums, municipal fill, and buried underground storage tanks ( UST ) are often the focus of environmental investigations. Geophysically, utility locators are often interested in finding buried pipes, manhole covers, USTs, and abandoned wells. Locating abandoned wells can also be a problem for mine operations, new road or building construction, and landfill studies. The military spends a tremendous amount of time, effort, and money towards locating unexploded ordnances ( UXO ) to secure large parcels of land. Police and forensic scientists use magnetometers to locate weapons and other lost items important to a case. While archaeological applications can be associated with locating iron artifacts, it can be used to map more subtle variations associated with fire pits or building materials that were brought to a site. Other subtle variations in the earth’s magnetic field are mapped by geophysicists and geologist to locate geologic formations or structural geology that may yield minerals, oil, gas, and other geologic features of interest. With the use of GPS, large tracks of land can be surveyed cost effectively and with great efficiency. More information about theory and application can be found on page for Geometrics APPLICATIONS MANUAL FOR PORTABLE MAGNETOMETERS.