CZECH REPUBLIC

MAGNETIC
SUSCEPTIBILITY METER
SM-20

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

VERSION 5.0

BRNO, NOVEMBER 2010

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Contents
Page

Technical Specifications 3
1. Introduction 4
2. Operating Instructions 5
2.1 Switching ON and OFF 5
2.2 Simple Susceptibility Measurement 5
2.3 Driftless (High Precision)
Susceptibility Measurement 6
2.4 Continuous Measurement
(Rough Scanning) 7
2.5 Data Storage 8
2.6 Data Examination 8
2.7 Memory Clearing 9
2.8 General Remarks 10
2.9 Measurement on Uneven Surface 11
2.10 Measurement on Rock Samples 11
2.11 Measurement on a Cylindrical
Surface 12
3. PC Control 13
4. Maintenance 15
5. Trouble Shooting 15

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Technical Specifications

Sensitivity 1x10-6 SI units

Auto-range 0-999x10-3 SI units

Sensor 50 mm air-cored coil

Sampling Time less than 1s

Operating Frequency 10 kHz

Weight 127 g

Dimensions 100x65x25 mm

PC Interface RS 232C

Display 3 1/2 character LCD

Data storage 120 values

Battery 2 pcs of 3V Li (2430)

Temperature Range -10 to 60 oC

Air humidity to 100%

(splash water resistant)

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1. Introduction

The SM-20 magnetic susceptibility meter serves

especially for use in field geological and
geophysical applications where the sensitivity
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of 10 SI units together with its small, shirt-pocket
size and light weight are appreciated.

Measurements of outcrops, drillcores or other

samples allow basic differentiation of rocks
(diamagnetic, paramagnetic and ferromagnetic)
and precise quantification of their magnetic
susceptibility.

The measurement is based on the evaluation

of frequency changes of the 10 kHz oscillator with
the use of advanced digital signal processing.

The SM-20 model continues in more than 50 years

old tradition of the kappameters production from
Geofyzika.

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2. Operating Instructions

The SM-20 instrument is operated using

two buttons called MEASURE and MEMORY.

2.1 Switching ON and OFF

The instrument is turned on by short pressing

of the MEMORY and turned off by long pressing
of the MEASURE. However, when the instrument
is not used continuously it turns off automatically
after some time (cca 2 min).

2.2 Simple Susceptibility Measurement

The simple measuring cycle consists of two steps.

For the first step place the instrument onto the
measured rock surface and press MEASURE
shortly. The prompt “ - - - “ and the acoustic signal
are generated while the measurement is done.
After that the display shows “r X“ (X represents a
value between 1 and 120 showing the actual
number of the data store register).

The second step (the reference measurement)

must be done immediately after the first step
is finished. Place the instrument away from the
rock (more than 30 cm from the rock surface into
the open air) and press the MEASURE shortly

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again. The prompt “ - - - “ and the acoustic signal
are generated during the time of the measurement.
After that the magnetic susceptibility value is
shown.
In the case of a long pause between the first and
the second steps the prompt “Err.“ is shown and
thus you have to start from the first step again.

2.3 Driftless (High Precision) Susceptibility

Measurement

This way of measurement serves only for accurate

evaluation of very low susceptibilities in which the
current temperature drift of the instrument should
be supressed to a negligible measure.

The driftless susceptibility measurement consists

of two steps as well.
The first step is the same as in the case of the
simple susceptibility measurement (short pressing
of the MEASURE).

The second step is initiated by a short pressing of

the MEMORY when the instrument is kept away
from the rock. It must be done immediately to avoid
the “Err.“ message.
The reference measurement passes in two phases
in this case. The first phase brings a simply
measured value of the magnetic susceptibility

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(the same procedure as in the previous
paragraph) while the second phase shows the final
corrected value consequently.

2.4 Continuous Measurement (Rough Scanning)

This measuring mode serves for getting a quick,

rough information about the distribution of the
magnetic susceptibility over the measured surface.

To switch to continuous measurement mode hold

the MEASURE button and press the MEMORY
button shortly. The prompt “Cont” appears on the
display.
Then carry out the reference measurement in a
usual way: press the button MEASURE while
holding the instrument in the air.
After that the continuous measurement starts
automatically, so the instrument can be placed on
the rock surface or sample(s) and shifted over
them.
The scanning can be stopped either by next
pressing of the MEASURE button or it is stopped
automatically after 60 readings. To continue the
scanning repeat the above described procedure.
(The period of the scanning – carried out without
reference measurement – is limited to keep the
drift on the last displayed order on an appropriate
level).

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2.5 Data Storage

120 data registers are available. The measured

susceptibility value (either simple or driftless) can
be stored when the measuring procedure is
finished.
Press the MEMORY and hold it - the prompt
“r. X“ (X is the number of the actual storage
register) is shown. When the MEMORY is
released, the susceptibility value is written into
the actual register. The following register number
is set.

Reseting to storage register 1 is possible by

pressing the MEASURE shortly while the
MEMORY is held (see above). The X value is
changed to 1 and the susceptibility is written into
register 1 when the MEMORY is released.

2.6 Data Examination

The previously measured susceptibilities stored in

120 registers can be shown step by step after the
instrument is switched on or after a data storage
procedure using the MEMORY is done.

Hold the MEMORY - the prompt “r X“ is shown

(X is the number of the actual storage register).

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If the MEMORY button is held for a longer time, the
numbers of registers are changing continuously (it
takes 15 – 20 s to get through all 120 registers).
In both cases the stored value of the magnetic
susceptibility in a current register is shown when
the MEMORY button is released.
The numbers of registers are decreasing during
either step-by-step or continuous data examination.

Reseting to storage register 1 is possible by short

pressing of the MEASURE while the MEMORY is
held. The X value is changed to 1 and the contents
of the register 1 is shown.

2.7 Memory Clearing

This procedure can be started by pressing

MEMORY and afterwards MEASURE buttons and
holding both of them until the prompt “Clr.“ appears
on the display.
To finish the complete clearing of the instrument’s
memory press MEMORY in this moment. The
prompt “Done” appears, the memory is cleared and
the number of register is set to 1.
If the button MEMORY is not pressed for a longer
time (or if MEASURE is pressed instead) the
clearing of the memory is not done and the
instrument returns to the starting stage.

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2.8 General Remarks

The center of the measuring sensor is situated

in the middle of the square frame on the bottom of
the instrument box.

The effective depth of the measuring signal

penetration is about 2.5 cm according to the
50 mm diameter of the sensor.

For extremely low susceptibilities and for

measurements in strong temperature changes use
the driftless measurement to avoid measuring error
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on the 10 order.

Be sure not to have metal objects in the near

vicinity (tens of cm) of the instrument when the
susceptibility is measured.

Choose flat rock surface without unevennesses for

the measurement.

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2.9 Measurement on Uneven Surface

To get the right susceptibility value on uneven

surface estimate its average unevenness and
multiply the measured value by corresponding
correction factor.

Surface Correction
unevenness factor
[mm]
----------------------------------------------
1 1.07
2 1.15
3 1.23
4 1.32
5 1.41
6 1.51
7 1.61
8 1.72
9 1.84
10 1.96

2.10 Measurement on Rock Samples

It is not recommended to measure on a rock

surface smaller than 60x60 mm.

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To get the right susceptibility value on rock
samples multiply the measured value by a
corresponding factor from the following table.

Sample Correction
surface factor
[mm]
---------------------------------------------
60x60 1.19
70x70 1.11
80x80 1.05
90x90 1.03
100x100 1.01

2.11 Measurement on a Cylindrical Surface

To get the right susceptibility value on a cylindrical

surface - for example on drill cores - multiply the
measured value by a corresponding correction
factor from the following table. The lenght of the
rock sample should not be shorter than 100 mm.

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 Diameter Correction
of core factor
[mm]
--------------------------------------------------
60 1.63
70 1.53
80 1.46
90 1.41
100 1.38
110 1.35
120 1.33

3. PC Control

The SM-20 Data Organizer allows both the transfer

of values stored in the SM-20 memory and the
current registration of measured data from SM-20.

There is the CD called SM-20 Data Organizer in

the SM-20 set. To install the GF Instruments
software for SM-20 under Microsoft Windows run
Setup.exe in the directory SM-20 Installation.
In the case of troubles study the document Read
Me.txt.
If you need NET Framework 1.1 you will find it on
that CD.

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Open the connector cover on SM-20 and connect
the instrument with PC serial port using the
enclosed cable.
Turn the SM-20 instrument on and start the SM20
program. The welcome screen is shown while the
instrument data storage is read.

You are asked to write the name of the output data

file. Then you can write the name or description of
the locality, the date of measurement and the
name of the operator.

After that you can either save the previously

measured susceptibility values from the instrument
memory or do and save current susceptibility
measurements (for example on laboratory rock
samples or drill cores).

The simple or driftless measurements are

controled by SM-20 buttons (described in
the chapter 2). Each stored susceptibility value can
be equipped with a comment from PC keyboard
before the MEMORY button on SM-20 is pressed.

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4. Maintenance

The only maintenance consists of the battery

exchange. The battery life is 160 hours typically.
Redundant battery discharge is eliminated by
automatic instrument power guard.

For the battery exchange loose four screws on the

bottom side and open the instrument box. Then
loose two screws of the battery holder and replace
the batteries with the new ones of the same type
(Li cells 2430).Then mantle the screws and the
cover back.
To keep the water tightness of SM-20 fasten all
four screws on the instrument bottom uniformly.

5. Trouble Shooting

The “bt “ message before the measured value

indicates that the battery is almost empty. After this
message is shown for the first time only several
minutes long work remains. It is necessary to
exchange battery in a short time.

The “FL“ message instead of the register number

during the storage procedure indicates that the
instrument memory is full already (the last filled

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position is 120). You should save data and start
from the register 1 again after the reset procedure.

The “ OL“ is shown instead of the measured

susceptibility value. The measured value (both the
positive and negative) of the susceptibility is out
of the measuring range.

This value cannot be stored in the memory (the

attempt to do it is ignored).

-----------------------------------------

In the case of a need of a warranty or after

warranty repair contact the producer on the
address:

GF Instruments, s.r.o.
Ječná 29a
621 00 BRNO
CZECH REPUBLIC

tel.: +420 541 634 366, 285

fax.: +420 549 522 915
E-mail: [email protected]

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