Banging the Mine Wall (IMAGE) University of Utah Caption University of Utah graduate student Shengdong Liu uses a sledgehammer to whack the wall of an abandoned copper mine in Arizona during a test of a new system that could locate miners trapped by a mine collapse. The system utilizes sledgehammers and iron plates embedded in the mine wall, as well as listening devices on the surface, to analyze the pattern or "fingerprint" of seismic waves created when a trapped miner hammers on the iron plate or mine wall. Each location within the mine has a distinct fingerprint, allowing rescuers to find the trapped miners. Credit Naoshi Aoki, University of Utah. Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.