In conflict zones and in regions that have seen prior warfare, small plastic objects shaped like maple seeds can remain active for years, hidden in grass, snow, or soil. These PFM-1 antipersonnel landmines, often called butterfly mines, are scatterable devices designed for wide-area dispersal rather than precise placement. Their plastic construction and surface or near-surface positioning makes them especially difficult for conventional demining tools to locate.
Antipersonnel landmines are smal