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The largest trucks in the world haul taconite from the open pit mine to the mill. This is one of them.
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We follow, at safe distance, one of the mining trucks on our way to the test sites.
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Clark Johnson, Steve Haverberg and US Steel engineer Les Laun, posing with the downhole magnetometer system on a grassy lawn. Prior testing provided the go-ahead to take it to the mines in northern Minnesota.
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Steve and Jack adjust a guide wheel, intended to help the probe stay in close contact with the edge of the borehole.
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The probe is lowered down the borehole. Jack monitors the cable; and I am monitoring the instrument panel, in the passenger seat behind the driver.
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The Bison downhole magnetometer, an improvised collection of sensors and logging circuits to capture the magnetic profile of a borehole. The prototype nature of the system is revealed by the makeshift dymo tape labels of the controls. It sat in the position of the right backseat passenger. The front right passenger seat appears to have been replaced by a kitchen chair.
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A view of the backside of the downhole magnetometer system, revealing the collection of circuit boards, displays and chart recorders that had been kludged together. Remarkably, it all worked!
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Clark Johnson and Steve Haverberg, preparing the instrument for the bathtub test in our hotel room. The probe is behind them, connected for a baseline measurement. Basic troubleshooting and electronics repair tools are on the dresser table on which the chassis has been placed.
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My photo opportunity with the downhole magnetometer system. I was 25.
Downhole Magnetometer Project Group
With US Steel mining engineers in the taconite mine at Mountain Iron MN
