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geophone
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geophone

instrument
Also known as: jugs, pickup, tortuga
Written and fact-checked by
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Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History

geophone, trade name for an acoustic detector that responds to ground vibrations generated by seismic waves. Geophones—also called jugs, pickups, and tortugas—are placed on the ground surface in various patterns, or arrays, to record the vibrations generated by explosives in seismic reflection and refraction work. They also are used as military detection devices. See also seismic survey.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Mic Anderson.