Forensic Geoscience: Principles, Techniques And Applications (Geological Society Special Publication) (Geological Society Special Publication) (Geological Society Special Publication)

Forensic geoscience is an increasingly important sub-discipline within geoscience and forensic science. Although minerals, soils, dusts and rock fragments have been used as forensic trace evidence for many years, their true potential has only begun to be recognized in the last ten years or so. The police and other investigative bodies are keen to encourage such developments in the fight against crime, particularly since many criminals show a high level of forensic awareness with regard to evidence such as fingerprints, blood and other body fluids. The papers in this volume illustrate some of the main principles, techniques and applications in current forensic geoscience, covering research and casework in the UK and internationally. The techniques described range from macro-scale field geophysical investigations to micro-scale laboratory studies of the chemical and textural properties of individual particles. In addition to forensic applications, many of these techniques have broad utility in geological, geomorphological, soil science and archaeological research. Also available: Communicating Environmental Geoscience - Special Publication no 305 - ISBN 1862392609 Geomaterials in cultural heritage - Special Publication No 257 - ISBN 978-1-86239-195-6 The Geological Society of LondonFounded in 1807, the Geological Society of London is the oldest geological society in the world, and one of the largest publishers in the Earth sciences.The Society publishes a wide range of high-quality peer-reviewed titles for academics and professionals working in the geosciences, and enjoys an enviable international reputation for the quality of its work.The many areas in which we publish in include:-Petroleum geology-Tectonics, structural geology and geodynamics-Stratigraphy, sedimentology and paleontology-Volcanology, magmatic studies and geochemistry-Remote sensing-History of geology-Regional geology guides Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 Forensic geoscience: introduction and overview......Page 10 Fig. 1. The relationship of forensic geoscience to some other disciplines and subdisciplines.......Page 11 Forensic geology: yesterday, today and tomorrow......Page 16 Geophysical techniques for forensic investigation......Page 20 Fig. 1. Detection probability example. After Benson and Yuhr (1996).......Page 22 Fig. 2. GPR profile over buried graves.......Page 25 Fig. 3. Sketch map of survey site, Saddleworth Moor, West Yorkshire.......Page 26 Fig. 4. Photograph showing field operator carrying out inductive conductivity measurements over .........Page 28 Table 1. Summary of geophysical survey methods. After Kearey and Brooks (1994).......Page 21 Geophysics and burials: field experience and software development......Page 30 Fig. 1. GPR at Mt Vernon: the SIR2000 with a 400 MHz .........Page 33 Fig. 2. Data collected at Wiggins Cemetery and house site at Stratham, .........Page 34 Fig. 3. An example of some of the display capabilities for 3-D .........Page 35 Fig. 5. Graves identified in 3D QuickDraw with onscreen annotation are exported .........Page 36 Fig. 6. GPR configuration for concrete investigation. The set-up displayed is .........Page 37 Fig. 7. Data were collected at a Cathedral north of Valencia, Spain, .........Page 38 Environmental influences on resistivity mapping for the location of clandestine graves......Page 42 Fig. 2. Resistivity mapping with the pole–pole array.......Page 43 Fig. 4. Resistivity variation caused by a model grave.......Page 44 Fig. 5. Resistivity and thickness of peat maps from a moorland gully.......Page 45 Fig. 6. Resistivity map from the corner of a field in Wales.......Page 46 The importance of stratigraphy in forensic investigation......Page 48 Fig. 1. Arbitrary excavation of graves, (a) Section across grave and natural .........Page 54 Fig. 2. Stratigraphic excavation, (a) Removal of O Horizon leaf litter exposes .........Page 55 Colour theory and the evaluation of an instrumental method of measurement using geological samples for forensic applications......Page 58 Table 1. Geological samples tested for colour......Page 60 Fig. 2. Reflectance curves (400–700nm range) for five subsamples taken from samplet: .........Page 63 Table 7. L*a*b* and Munsell indices (H, V/C) for different size fractions obtained from four samples......Page 66 Table 8. L*a*b* andMunsell indices (H, V/C) for bulk and size fractions .........Page 67 Table 9. L*a*b* and Munsell indices (H, V/C) for four samples tested .........Page 68 Fig. 8. Reflectance curves (400–700 nm range) for samples taken from a .........Page 69 Table 11. L *a*b* and Munsell indices (H, V/C) for samples from a case of eco-vandalism.......Page 70 Table 2. Variation in determined L*a*b* and Munsell indices (H, V/C) measurements .........Page 61 Table 4. Variation in L*a*b* and Munsell indices (H, V/C) measurements .........Page 62 Table 5. Summary of Munsell indices (H, V/C) and descriptions compared with .........Page 64 Table 6. L*a*b* and Munsell indices (H, V/C) for 16 bulk geological samples......Page 65 Fig. 1. The CoulterTM LS230 laser granulometer.......Page 72 Fig. 2. Schematic diagram of the CoulterTM LS230 laser granulometer optical system.......Page 73 Fig. 3. Differential volume plots for 15 repeat runs of: (a) a .........Page 74 Fig. 4. Superimposed differential volume plots for 15 subsamples each of: (a) .........Page 77 Fig. 5. Superimposed differential volume plots showing a close similarity between (a) .........Page 79 Table 5. Particle size summary statistics for mud from the front offside .........Page 80 Table 1. Comparison of variability data for 15 subsamples taken from a .........Page 75 Table 3. Comparison of data for 15 subsamples taken from a parkland .........Page 76 Table 4. Comparison of particle size distribution parameters for beach sands from .........Page 78 Development of a coastal dune sediment database for England and Wales: forensic applications......Page 84 Fig. 1. Location of the major coastal dune systems in England and .........Page 85 Fig. 2. Depth sampling using an auger within the Sefton coastal dune system.......Page 86 Fig.3.Variation in particle size characteristics with depth within the Sefton coastal dune system.......Page 87 Fig. 4. Frequency histograms of: (a) mean particle size, (b) median particle .........Page 88 Fig. 6. Frequency histograms of: (a) mean particle size, (b) median particle .........Page 89 Fig. 7. Frequency histograms of: (a) mean particle size, (b) median particle .........Page 90 Fig. 8. Average SiO[sub(2)] content plotted with one standard deviation for the .........Page 91 Fig. 10. Bivariate plot of the A1[sub(2)]O[sub(3)]/K[sub(2)]O ratio v. the SiO[sub(2)]/Al[sub(2)]O[sub(3)] ratio .........Page 92 Fig. 13. Work glove with traces of decomposition fluids and sand grains trapped in the webbing.......Page 93 Fig. 14. Map of the Lincolnshire coast, showing the location where the .........Page 94 Table 2. Particle size characteristics of dune sediments collected from the Lincolnshire .........Page 95 Fig. 16. Aerial photograph of the coastline between Chapel Six Marshes and .........Page 98 Fig. 17. Particle size distributions of: (a) sand on the suspect glove .........Page 100 Fig. 18. Location map of the Sefton coast, showing the Queen's Silver .........Page 101 Table 5. Particle size characteristics of sand from the suspect dustbin lid, .........Page 102 Fig. 22. Modal particle size plotted against D[sub(90)]—D[sub(10)] range illustrating the coarser .........Page 103 Table 3. Geochemical composition of sand on the suspect's glove and dune .........Page 97 Table 4. Particle size characteristics of dune sediments from Profiles 1–13 between .........Page 99 Table 6. Geochemical composition of sand from the suspect dustbin lid, the .........Page 104 'Unique' particles in soil evidence......Page 106 Fig. 2. Photograph of diagnostic red spherical particles in soil samples from a criminal case.......Page 107 Fig. 5. Photograph of a leaf from a control camphor tree with 'tick holes' (arrows).......Page 108 Table 1. Thicknesses of palisade parenchyma (PAL) and hourglass cells ofhypodermis (HYP) .........Page 109 Forensic examination of rocks, sediments, soils and dusts using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray chemical microanalysis......Page 112 Fig. 2. BSE image of a polished section of concrete, recovered from .........Page 114 Fig. 3. BSE images showing: (a) the internal microstructure of a piece .........Page 115 Fig. 4. Some quartz grain surface textural features and their suggested sedimentary .........Page 117 Fig. 5. Mean and range of the frequencies of 29 surface textural .........Page 118 Fig. 8. BSE image of an angular, elongate quartz grain showing fresh .........Page 119 Fig. 10. Frequency distribution of mean amplitude value for Fourier harmonics 2, 4 .........Page 120 Fig. 12. Mean surface area for the 250-355 μm size fraction of .........Page 121 Fig. 16. BSE image of part of a calcite inoceramid prism, derived .........Page 122 Fig. 18. BSE images showing: (a) Ca- and P-rich particles (white) and .........Page 123 Fig. 22. BSE image of dust sample collected within a contaminated industrial building (uncoated sample).......Page 124 Fig. 23. Frequency histograms showing distribution of: (a) particle sizes, and (b) .........Page 126 Table 2. Size and shape parameters of the three SEM stubs .........Page 125 Rapid quantitative mineral and phase analysis using automated scanning electron microscopy (QemSCAN); potential applications in forensic geoscience......Page 132 Fig. 1. Schematic diagram illustrating the EDS-based mineral analysis system, (a) Systematic .........Page 134 Fig. 2. Automated mineral analysis can be carried out using QemSCAN in .........Page 135 Table 1. Soil samples collected for mineralogical analysis in the Brisbane area......Page 137 Table 2. Soil modal mineralogy data. The modal data are based on the .........Page 138 Fig. 5. Representative QemSCAN images of soil particles. Sample numbers: (a) MSF1, .........Page 139 Fig. 7. Dust modal mineralogy data, (a) Histograms showing the modal abundance .........Page 140 Fig. 8. QemSCAN particle images for grains from: (a) the workshop window .........Page 143 Table 3. Modal mineralogy/phase composition data for the dust samples......Page 141 Mineralogy and microanalysis in the determination of cause of impact damage to spacecraft surfaces......Page 146 Fig. 1. (a) Secondary electron micrograph of a typical interplanetary dust particle .........Page 147 Fig. 2. (a) An optical photograph of one of the solar array .........Page 148 Fig. 3. Secondary electron micrograph of a cross-section made of an individual .........Page 149 Fig. 4. (a) Secondary electron micrograph of an impact crater preserved in .........Page 150 Fig. 5. (a) Energy-dispersive X-ray elemental maps of a patch of extraneous .........Page 152 Fig. 6. (a) Secondary electron micrograph of a typical impact crater preserved .........Page 153 The archaeologist as a detective: scientific techniques and the investigation of past societies......Page 156 Fig. 1. A three-chambered beehived-shaped glass furnace showing: (a) the firebox: (b) .........Page 157 Fig. 2. Relative proportions of magnesium and potassium oxide impurities (wt% oxide) .........Page 158 Fig. 3. Relative proportions of magnesium and aluminium oxide impurities (wt% oxide) .........Page 159 Fig. 4. Relative proportions of calcium oxide and phosphorus pentoxide (wt% oxide) .........Page 161 Fig. 5. Relative proportions of magnesium and potassium oxide impurities (wt% oxide) .........Page 162 Table 2. A range of decorative styles used in Turkish pottery from 1430-c. 1650......Page 163 Fig. 10. A backscattered scanning electron micrograph of a polished section of .........Page 164 Fig. 12. A backscattered scanning electron micrograph through a polished section of .........Page 165 Table 1. The inferred raw materials used for the production of the .........Page 160 Forensic applications of Raman spectroscopy to the non-destructive analysis of biomaterials and their degradation......Page 168 Fig. 1. The Alpine Iceman; a Neolithic ice-mummified body dating from 5.2 ka BP.......Page 170 Fig. 3. Mummified 6-month-old baby girl from the Qilakitsoq burial (Grave I, mummy 1 in Fig. 2).......Page 171 Fig. 4. The earliest recorded forensic scientific investigation of a mummy, Victoria .........Page 172 Fig. 9. FT-RS in the 900–lSOOcm-1 region of the mummified skin of .........Page 174 Fig. 12. FT-RS spectrum of Baltic amber, 1064 nm excitation, 100–3400cm[sup(-1)] range .........Page 175 Fig. 15. FT-RS of partly degraded amber resin, showing the broadening of .........Page 176 Fig. 18. FT-RS stackplot: (a) bone; (b) African elephant ivory and (c) mammoth ivory.......Page 177 Fig. 20. Specimen of mammoth ivory, in which the degradation of the .........Page 178 Fig. 21. The FT-RS of the necklace shown in Fig. 16 confirms .........Page 179 Assessing element variability in small soil samples taken during forensic investigation......Page 180 Fig. 2. Error bars at the lo- level for U and Th .........Page 188 Table 2. ICP-MS detection limits calculated using 10 replicate measurements of .........Page 183 Table 4. Instrument measurement precision (CV) calculated for trace elements by ICP-MS (n =5)......Page 184 Table 5. Preparation precision (CV) calculated for major and trace elements by ICP-AES (n=10)......Page 185 Table 7. Elements which show measurement precision to be greater than preparation precision......Page 186 Table 8. Two-tailed t-test comparing measurement and preparation precision. Values in .........Page 187 Comparison of soils and sediments using major and trace element data......Page 192 Fig. 3. Plot of chondrite-normalized rare earth element concentrations for mud from .........Page 199 Fig. 4. Bivariate plots comparing two samples (KP1 and KP2) in terms .........Page 201 Table 1. Major and trace element data for mud taken from a .........Page 197 Table 2. Selected major oxide and trace element ratios for mud taken .........Page 198 Table 3. Average chemical composition of mud taken from a suspect's boots .........Page 200 Table 4. Pearson's correlation values obtained by comparing mud taken from a .........Page 202 Table 5. Pearson's correlation values obtained by comparing mud taken from a .........Page 203 Table 6. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients obtained by comparing mud from a .........Page 204 Investigating multi-element soil geochemical signatures and their potential for use in forensic studies......Page 206 Fig. 1. The study region showing the location of soil samples collected .........Page 208 Fig. 2. Scheme for the collection of duplicate samples (and separation into .........Page 209 Table 3. Statistics for discriminant analysis based on Mahalanobis distance for soils .........Page 213 Fig. 5. Frequency distributions for Mahalanobis distances for paired soil samples within .........Page 214 Table 1. Statistics of the ratios of total element concentrations in soil .........Page 210 Table 2. Detection limits, lower reporting limits and measurement uncertainties calculated using .........Page 212 Bayesian sediment fingerprinting provides a robust tool for environmental forensic geoscience applications......Page 216 Fig. 2. Effect of source group sampling numbers and source group variability on model performance.......Page 218 Fig. 3. Derived uncertainty bounds from peer-reviewed literature data sources, recalculated using .........Page 219 Table 1. Principal sources of uncertainty within sediment fingerprinting schemes......Page 217 Table 2. Data sets obtained from peer-reviewed literature......Page 221 Isotope and trace element analysis of human teeth and bones for forensic purposes......Page 224 Fig. 1. ε[sub (Nd)](0) values for some example rock and sediment types from .........Page 229 Fig. 2. Plot of [sup(143)Nd/[sup(144)]Nd v. [sup(87)]Sr/[sup(86)]Sr for some example rock and .........Page 230 Table 3. Strontium isotope values for (a) bulk samples and (b) sequential .........Page 232 Fig. 4. Values of (a) [sup(87)]Sr/[sup(86)]Sr ratio, (b) [sup(206)]Pb/[sup(207)]Pb ratio, and (c) .........Page 233 Fig. 5. Plots of (a) [sup(207)]pb/[sup(206)]pb v.[sup(87)]Sr/[sup (86)]Sr, (b) [sup(206)]pb/[sup(204)]pb v. pb .........Page 234 Fig. 6. Plots of (a) [sup(208)]Pb/[sup(204)]Pb v. Pb concentration, (b) [sup(207)]Pb/[sup(206)]Pb v. .........Page 235 Fig. 7. Values of (a) mean δ[sup(18)]O v. SMOW and (b) mean .........Page 236 Fig. 8. Spider plots (log scale) comparing (a) concentrations of selected elements .........Page 239 Table 1. Deciduous and secondary tooth formation and emergence. After Woelfel and Scheid (2002)......Page 225 Table 2. Strontium isotope ratios for the bulk