The impulse source is intended for high resolution shallow seismic prospection. For oscillation excitation, the source utilizes the energy of powder gases that are discharged during the confined combustion of a load of black or smokeless powder between the cartridge chamber and the bottom of a one meter deep well. The impulse source is a serial device that has been certified in Russia in accordance with the standard requirements to durability and safety. Only specially designed blank cartridges are used; and the source generates the wave field in a wide frequency range, with the intensity sufficient for recording of the reflected waves at depths down to 1 000 meters. A patent application has been filed (No. 2010124548). The device is 7.5 kg in weight and 1.4 m in height and is designed for a 60-mm-diameter well.