Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for failure prediction of earth structures. The apparatus is intrinsically safe with all necessary electronics contained in a portable central unit except for a sensor and a preamplifier which are positioned contiguous to an earth structure to be monitored and are connected through an electrical cable to the central unit. The entire apparatus is powered by a six volt battery power source also contained in the central unit with electrical isolation being featured. The apparatus monitors the selected earth structure and predicts failure through analysis of determined microseismic emissions arising from changes in mechanical loading of the selected earth structure.