Another Strange Find.....

Garrett424

Silver Member
Jun 20, 2014
3,164
2,284
Granite, Maryland
Detector(s) used
Teknetics Omega 8000
Teknetics Delta 4000,
Deteknix XPointer,
Fiskar's Big Grip Digger & my old Army Trench shovel for the tough jobs
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
I had about 45 minutes to hunt after work before the sun went down so I went to an old fishing hole I've been fishing since I was a little kid.

Anyway, I wasn't having much luck and spent most of my time digging trash, sinkers and some clad. Then I got a strong hit and dug up this:

I Button Sept 3, 2014 001.JPG

At first I thought it was an ear gauge but upon closer inspection, I thought it was a hearing aid or watch battery. It's neither.

It's called an "I-Button Wire Thermochron". It's some type of mobile communication microchip encased in an all weather "can". I don't know exactly what it's used for just yet. I've never seen or heard of one before tonight. There's writing etched onto the surface but I couldn't get a good shot of it. You can vaguely make out a few characters but that's the best I could do.

It's just about the size if a dime and maybe 3/16" thick.

I just thought this was a very unusual find; especially given the location.
You just never know what you're gonna' dig up at any given time or place.
 

Upvote 3

jamey

Silver Member
Feb 3, 2007
3,069
1,924
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
neat post, i have a family member in the cia,well i guess a consultant now,but your post reminds me of some of the stories i have herd before cell phones and such.
 

OP
OP
Garrett424

Garrett424

Silver Member
Jun 20, 2014
3,164
2,284
Granite, Maryland
Detector(s) used
Teknetics Omega 8000
Teknetics Delta 4000,
Deteknix XPointer,
Fiskar's Big Grip Digger & my old Army Trench shovel for the tough jobs
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting

Thanks.

After reading about this thing, I realized that apparently, they (whoever "they" is in this case) can track these devices anywhere, which means that someone can also track ME should I decide to carry it. Of course I won't. Maybe I should just trash it or something.

I wonder what it was doing buried at the fishing hole??
The surprises just never end with this hobby.
 

Last edited:

redcobra8u

Bronze Member
Jan 24, 2014
1,221
1,336
Los Angeles
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Minelab Excal II, Garrett AT Pro, CTX3030
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Thanks. After reading about this thing, I realized that apparently, they (whoever "they" is in this case) can track these devices anywhere, which means that someone can also track ME should I decide to carry it. Of course I won't. Maybe I should just trash it or something. I wonder what it was doing buried at the fishing hole??
My guess is it is from a weather balloon and probably was unable to be recovered?
 

treblehunter

Gold Member
Jun 18, 2013
9,675
11,295
New Jersey
Detector(s) used
Minelab Excalibur II
XP Deus
Garrett pro pointer
XP Deus MI-6 pinpointer
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Very interesting, just when you think you seen everything? Your right, I love this hobby, there is always something to learn!
 

Goose-0

Hero Member
Dec 25, 2006
968
278
Central Minnnesota
Detector(s) used
White's DFX & VX3
So "they" can trace it eh? Hide that Thermochrom Button on a public bus. It'll drive "them" crazy trying to find it.
 

dieselram94

Gold Member
Jun 17, 2011
9,174
6,675
Mid Coast Maine
Detector(s) used
Xterra 705, Tesoro Sand Shark, Garrett Pro Pointer (mine). Fisher F2 my son's
Primary Interest:
Beach & Shallow Water Hunting
That is weird...maybe it's from a spy from Iraq!
Or maybe a swimmer had it in his shorts...you know to log heat data! Don't sniff it! LOL!
 

Goldiver

Bronze Member
Sep 15, 2006
2,345
1,150
Fremont, Ohio
Detector(s) used
Equinox 800, Fisher F-75 LTD2, CZ-70, CZ-21, 1280x, Vibraprobe 560, Minelab Pro-Find 35
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
No doubt you found the location of where a Mob hit took place. They discovered this guy was "wired" and took him for a ride down to the old fishing hole. :laughing7:

Seriously though it is a very interesting find.

Steve
 

OP
OP
Garrett424

Garrett424

Silver Member
Jun 20, 2014
3,164
2,284
Granite, Maryland
Detector(s) used
Teknetics Omega 8000
Teknetics Delta 4000,
Deteknix XPointer,
Fiskar's Big Grip Digger & my old Army Trench shovel for the tough jobs
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
No doubt you found the location of where a Mob hit took place. They discovered this guy was "wired" and took him for a ride down to the old fishing hole. :laughing7:

Seriously though it is a very interesting find.

Steve

Maybe he's at the bottom in a pair of "Cee-ment" shoes.

There are an awful lot of snags in that spot. Hmmmm.......

But seriously, you really just never know what's underfoot. This is definitely a strange one.
 

dieselram94

Gold Member
Jun 17, 2011
9,174
6,675
Mid Coast Maine
Detector(s) used
Xterra 705, Tesoro Sand Shark, Garrett Pro Pointer (mine). Fisher F2 my son's
Primary Interest:
Beach & Shallow Water Hunting
I'm thinking it was in someone's pocket and fell out swimming.

sent from a potato...
 

WHADIFIND

Gold Member
Apr 9, 2012
12,074
38,224
South of the Mason-Dixon Line
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
4
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT-MAX
Garrett AT-PRO,
Garrett Groundhog,
Pro-Pointer,

Jack Hammer!
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Is it possible that there was skiing in the area during the winter? Or maybe hiking? Lost in an avalanche or flood? :dontknow: Might be a clue to a missing person, never know.
 

Hendo0601

Sr. Member
Jul 30, 2014
257
455
California
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Minelab CTX 3030
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
I would imagine there is some kind of serial number or ID number associated with this transmitter which might lead you back to who lost it/discarded it. Until then find yourself a lead lined box and store it in there lol.
 

dieselram94

Gold Member
Jun 17, 2011
9,174
6,675
Mid Coast Maine
Detector(s) used
Xterra 705, Tesoro Sand Shark, Garrett Pro Pointer (mine). Fisher F2 my son's
Primary Interest:
Beach & Shallow Water Hunting
I would imagine there is some kind of serial number or ID number associated with this transmitter which might lead you back to who lost it/discarded it. Until then find yourself a lead lined box and store it in there lol.
Heck, have some fun with it. Put it in the freezer, then leave it in the sun...after that leave it on the prize counter at chuckecheese. Some kid will find it and carry it all over the place and really keep whoever is monitoring it busy!

sent from a potato...
 

dieselram94

Gold Member
Jun 17, 2011
9,174
6,675
Mid Coast Maine
Detector(s) used
Xterra 705, Tesoro Sand Shark, Garrett Pro Pointer (mine). Fisher F2 my son's
Primary Interest:
Beach & Shallow Water Hunting
It could have fallen off an aircraft. Including model airplanes...

sent from a potato...
 

Hendo0601

Sr. Member
Jul 30, 2014
257
455
California
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Minelab CTX 3030
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
This is a long shot, but it could have also been a part of a tag attached to wildlife such as fish to track their movement/migratory habits.
 

OP
OP
Garrett424

Garrett424

Silver Member
Jun 20, 2014
3,164
2,284
Granite, Maryland
Detector(s) used
Teknetics Omega 8000
Teknetics Delta 4000,
Deteknix XPointer,
Fiskar's Big Grip Digger & my old Army Trench shovel for the tough jobs
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Is it possible that there was skiing in the area during the winter? Or maybe hiking? Lost in an avalanche or flood? :dontknow: Might be a clue to a missing person, never know.

No skiing, lots of hiking, and yes, several small floods last spring but nothing catastrophic.
The missing person angle is interesting but I haven't heard of anyone missing in the area.

Then again, many missing persons cases are never even reported, much less solved. That goes for most crime for that matter.
 

Last edited:
OP
OP
Garrett424

Garrett424

Silver Member
Jun 20, 2014
3,164
2,284
Granite, Maryland
Detector(s) used
Teknetics Omega 8000
Teknetics Delta 4000,
Deteknix XPointer,
Fiskar's Big Grip Digger & my old Army Trench shovel for the tough jobs
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
This is a long shot, but it could have also been a part of a tag attached to wildlife such as fish to track their movement/migratory habits.

Could be. The possibilities are endless.
The only way to know for sure is to maybe contact the manufacturer and see if they can tell me.
They may even be able to get a signal from it.
 

Last edited:

dieselram94

Gold Member
Jun 17, 2011
9,174
6,675
Mid Coast Maine
Detector(s) used
Xterra 705, Tesoro Sand Shark, Garrett Pro Pointer (mine). Fisher F2 my son's
Primary Interest:
Beach & Shallow Water Hunting
Could be. The possibilities are endless.
Tthe only way to know for sure is to maybe contact the manufacturer and see if they can tell me.
They may even be able to get a signal from it.
I think some sort of reader is required to connect to it to pull the data from it...

sent from a potato...
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top