An earth-moving machine (front loader/backhoe, known locally as a "JCB") on Thursday dropped onto the top of a load of soil it was piling up the steel hook that holds one of its snowshoe-sized feet for lifting and stabilizing the machine.

It should be pretty easy to find with a metal detector, as it probably weighs 0.5 kg, and is likely no more than 30 cm below the surface of pure, clean river soil, in a roughly 10-square-meter area atop the pile. This soil is still quite moist and heavy, and searching manually would be really hard -- it's not a soft, comfy haystack.

If anyone in the Chiang Mai area has such a metal detector, or knows someone who does, I would be most appreciative to borrow it for an hour (after being taught how to use it), or to invite its owner to my property to help us find it. I am sure the missing metal piece will likely give a signal within 5 minutes of browsing the pile.

We are on the south side of Chiang Mai, along the bank of the Ping River, north and inside the "middle ring road" (also known as the "700 year") highway 3029.

Thank you.

Bruce404

If no one is able to provide you with a metal detector, try the 'Avalanche Wands' idea. Thin rods thrust into the ground. As long as the soil doesn't have a chance to pack down, something such as a straightened wire coat hanger should work.

Large electromagnet might work. They can pick up entire cars. Seriously, if no device found (magnets, magic wands, metal detector), 6 Burmese with shovels may be best.

Free metal detector app can be downloaded to your smart phone, They work pretty good but not sure if it can find something that deep but it's free so give it a try.

yeah I would try a metal detector app, it's quite sensitive