I wonder if it's possible to use microwaves to detect meteorites? Conductive metal will backscatter microwaves and can be detected by an appropriate instrument (this is how radar works). Perhaps it's possible to send a beam of microwaves into the ground over a large area and see what comes back. If you use a fairly short wavelength you might be able to resolve images of what's under the ground. Short wavelength microwaves would probably be needed to detect a chondrite because long wavelengths would probably not couple to the metal very well and be reflected. An iron however should show up quite easily. The only problem with short wavelengths is that they are absorbed pretty quickly by water so they would have trouble penetrating wet ground. It would work great in a sandy desert though I'm sure.
Just a thought
Graham ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Graham Christensen [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.geocities.com/aerolitehunter msn messenger: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message ----- From: "Maria Haas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, April 10, 2005 10:05 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] What great hobby!!
Graham Christensen Wrote:btw, I went meteorite hunting today for the first time in a couple years! And I found...*drumroll*...scrap metal!
Graham
Maria Sheepishly Adds:
I am so desperate to find "something" walking fields every single day looking for meteorites that I have started to fill my rock bag with scrap pieces of metal, miscellaneous junk, gum wrappers, fast food containers and the occasional bolt, screw and nail. While I may not be ridding the world of those pesky meteorites laying everywhere, I am providing some job security to our garbage collection service employees. (Of course I look the metal stuff over really carefully one more time just in case space rocks could actually weather to look like one of those rusted old metal pop lids.) Sick.
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