11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
[MGI31-P06] The forensic usefulness of analyzing non-geological materials in soil evidence
Keywords:Forensic geoscience, non-geological materials, µCT, SEM
Soil is found as trace evidence and provides important information on criminal investigation. Soil consists of various components, such as rocks, minerals, organic matters, pollen, botanical root, insects, paints, glass, and so on. Materials such as charcoal and cement are sometimes dumped at the crime scene to destroy the criminal scene deliberately. Thus, not only geological materials but also the botanical or artificial materials can be the targets for forensic soil examination. In this presentation, we will introduce applications of non-geological materials in forensic geoscience with some examples of their analytical results.
Minute biological materials such as pollen, phytolith, microalgae, macro-fungal spore, and diatom have been generally examined by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. By observing the appearance of these small particles, discriminating power of soil samples can be increased. If species of the microorganism can be identified, environment may be estimated. Wood fragments have been analyzed by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to examine the main components such as lignin. The tissue structures of wood and charcoal fragments can be non-destructively observed by micro-computed tomography. The type of wood charcoal fragments can be estimated by X-ray diffraction by analyzing the degree of crystallization. Thus, various analytical approaches can be applied to the forensic soil examination. Research on the non-geological materials in soil evidence also has the probability to contribute to the research in forensic geoscience.
Minute biological materials such as pollen, phytolith, microalgae, macro-fungal spore, and diatom have been generally examined by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. By observing the appearance of these small particles, discriminating power of soil samples can be increased. If species of the microorganism can be identified, environment may be estimated. Wood fragments have been analyzed by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to examine the main components such as lignin. The tissue structures of wood and charcoal fragments can be non-destructively observed by micro-computed tomography. The type of wood charcoal fragments can be estimated by X-ray diffraction by analyzing the degree of crystallization. Thus, various analytical approaches can be applied to the forensic soil examination. Research on the non-geological materials in soil evidence also has the probability to contribute to the research in forensic geoscience.