This book illustrates the main modern mineralogical analytical procedures that can be applied for forensic purposes on various typologies of materials and substances and has both theoretical and practical approach. Moreover, it focuses on all those challenges that can arise with forensic analysis, such as the choice of the most proper mineralogical techniques as a function of the material and its quantity, destructive and non-destructive analyses, sampling procedures, mineralogical analysis of micro-traces, correct preparation of the samples, correct calibration and analytical conditions of the laboratory instrumentation. Numerous case studies on criminal offenses against persons, environment and cultural heritage are illustrated.
Author(s): Mariano Mercurio, Alessio Langella, Rosa Maria Di Maggio, Piergiulio Cappelletti
Series: Soil Forensics
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 319
City: Cham
Preface
Contents
Contributors
Chapter 1: Optical Microscopy Applied to Forensics
1.1 Stereoscopic Microscope: Instrumentation and Analysis Procedures
1.1.1 Magnification
1.1.2 Lighting System
1.1.3 Diagnostic Characteristics for the Study of Various Materials
1.2 Polarized Light Microscope: Instrumentation and Analysis Procedures
1.2.1 Sample Preparation
1.2.2 Different Light Arrangements and Optical Diagnostic Characteristics of Anisotropic Materials
1.2.3 Semi-quantitative Analysis
1.3 Applications of Optical Microscopy to Forensic Sciences
1.3.1 Minerals and Rocks
1.3.2 Pedological Materials
1.3.2.1 Diagnostic Physical Characteristics for the Study of Soil Particles
1.3.2.2 Organic and Anthropogenic Fragments in Forensic Soil
1.3.3 Precious Stones and Gems
1.3.4 Precious Metals
1.3.5 Building Materials
References
Chapter 2: X-ray Diffractometry in Forensic Science
2.1 X-Rays: Characteristics, Production, Analytical Procedures
2.2 X-Ray Diffraction
2.3 Collecting and Analyzing Data
2.4 Phase Identification
2.5 Sample Preparation: Good and Bad Practices
2.6 Preferred Orientation in Clay Minerals
2.7 Quantitative Analysis
2.7.1 Full-Pattern Fitting/Rietveld Method
2.8 Environmental Crimes: Evaluation of the Presence of Asbestos Minerals in Massive Samples
2.9 Cultural Heritage Crimes: Identification of the Geological Provenance of Geoarchaeological Materials
2.10 Concluding Remarks
References
Chapter 3: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) in Forensic Geoscience
3.1 Scanning Electron Microscopy
3.2 The Signals of an SEM
3.3 The Structure of an SEM
3.4 Electron Microanalysis
3.5 Specimen Preparation
3.6 Automated Mineralogy
3.7 Applications of SEM in Forensic Geoscience
3.7.1 Applications of Manual Scanning Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis
3.7.2 Applications of Automated Mineralogy
References
Chapter 4: Infrared Spectroscopy and Application to Forensics
4.1 Theoretical Background
4.1.1 The Infrared (IR) Radiation
4.1.2 The Absorption of IR Radiation
4.1.3 The Harmonic Oscillator Model
4.1.4 Transition Moment and General Selection Rule in IR Spectroscopy
4.1.5 The Normal Vibration Modes of Molecules
4.1.6 Transmittance, Absorbance and Beer-Lambert’s Law
4.1.7 The IR Spectrum: Position, Intensity and Shape of Absorption Bands
4.1.8 Features of the IR Spectrum and Their Interpretation
4.2 Instruments and Methodologies
4.2.1 Analysis in Reflectance
4.2.2 Quantitative Analysis
4.2.3 FTIR Microscopy and Imaging
4.3 Sample Preparation
4.3.1 Powders
4.3.2 Single Crystals, Doubly Polished Slabs
4.4 Applications in Forensics
4.4.1 Fingerprinting
4.4.2 Qualitative Analysis of Discrete Features in the Spectral Signal
4.4.3 Quantitative Analysis
4.4.4 Spatial Analysis (Imaging)
References
Chapter 5: Raman Spectroscopy and Forensic Mineralogy
5.1 Raman Spectroscopy: Basic Notions
5.1.1 The Raman Effect
5.1.2 Raman Spectrum
5.1.3 Raman Spectroscopy: From Past to Present
5.1.4 Unconventional Techniques Based on Raman Spectroscopy
5.2 Applications of Raman Spectroscopy: Gemmological Materials
5.2.1 Raman Spectroscopy in Gemmology: Advantages and Disadvantages
5.2.2 Identification of Gems Through Raman Spectroscopy
5.2.3 Analytical Issues
5.2.4 Portable or Bench Top Spectrometer?
5.3 Other Applications of Raman Spectroscopy: Inks and Pigments, Explosives, Dangerous Minerals
5.3.1 Inks and Pigments
5.3.2 Explosives
5.3.3 Dangerous Minerals for Human Health: Asbestos and Crystalline Silica
5.4 Concluding Remarks
References
Chapter 6: ICP-MS – Fundamentals and Application to Forensic Science
6.1 ICP-MS – Principles
6.1.1 Analytical Steps
6.1.2 Interference Issue
6.2 Laser Ablation Coupled with ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS)
6.3 Sample Preparation and Analytical Phase
6.3.1 Analytical Phase
6.3.2 LA-ICP-MS
6.4 Forensic Applications
6.4.1 Glass
6.4.2 Soils
6.4.3 Biological Tissues
References
Chapter 7: Simultaneous Thermal Analysis (STA): A Powerful Tool for Forensic Investigation of Geomaterials
7.1 Thermoanalytic Techniques and Instrumentation
7.1.1 Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)
7.1.2 Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA)
7.1.3 Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
7.1.4 Hyphenated Techniques
7.2 Sample Preparation
7.3 Thermal Behavior of Minerals and Their Mixtures
7.3.1 Clay Minerals
7.3.2 Zeolites
7.3.3 Sulphates
7.3.4 Carbonates
7.3.5 Halides
7.3.6 Other Minerals
7.3.7 Soils
7.3.8 Rocks
7.4 Applications of Thermal Analyses to Forensic Sciences
References
Chapter 8: X-Ray Fluorescence: Chemical Characterization of Materials by X-Ray Spectrometry
8.1 Processes That Can Generate X-Rays
8.2 The Spectrum of X-Rays
8.3 Absorption of X-Rays
8.4 Detection and Measurement of X-Rays
8.4.1 X-Ray Detection by Energy Dispersion (ED = Energy Dispersive)
8.4.2 X-Ray Detection by Wavelength Dispersion (WD = Wavelength Dispersive)
8.5 XRF Qualitative Analysis
8.6 XRF Quantitative Analysis
8.7 Use of Portable Equipment
8.8 Preparation of the Samples
8.9 Examples of Use of the XRF in Forensic Investigations
8.9.1 Materials for Industry
8.9.2 Precious Materials (Metals and Stones) and Cultural Heritage Materials
8.9.3 Characterization of Paint, Pigments and Inks
8.9.4 Analysis of Evidence in Criminal Scenes in Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology
8.9.5 Analysis of Soils, Earth Materials and Environmental Samples
References
Chapter 9: Isotopic Analysis Techniques Applied to Forensics: New Frontiers of Isotope Geochemistry
9.1 Sample Preparation
9.1.1 Preparation Techniques for Inorganic Samples
9.1.1.1 Extraction with a Solvent
9.1.1.2 Dissolution with Mineral Acids
9.1.1.3 Fusion with a Flux
9.1.2 Preparation Techniques for Organic Samples
9.1.2.1 Teeth and Bones
9.1.2.2 Hair
9.1.2.3 Soil
9.1.2.4 Plants
9.1.2.5 Food
9.1.2.6 Beverages
9.1.2.7 Extraction of a Gas from a Solid
9.1.3 Chromatographic Separation Techniques
9.1.3.1 Liquid Phase Chromatographic Separation
9.1.3.2 Gas Phase Chromatographic Separation
9.2 Instrumentation
9.2.1 Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry
9.2.1.1 Principles and Instrumentation
9.2.1.2 Measurement Procedures
9.2.2 Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry – Solid Source Mass Spectrometers
9.2.2.1 Principles and Instrumentation
9.2.2.2 Measurement Procedures
9.2.3 Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry – Gas Source Mass Spectrometry
9.2.3.1 Principles and Instrumentation
9.2.3.2 Measurement Procedures
9.2.4 Alpha and Gamma Spectrometry
9.3 Application of Isotope Forensics
9.3.1 Placement of a Suspect at the Crime Scene
9.3.2 Human Provenancing
9.3.3 Drugs
9.3.4 Explosives
9.3.5 Radioactive Materials
9.3.6 Environmental Forensics
9.3.7 Food Adulteration
References
Chapter 10: Image Analysis in Forensic Mineralogy
10.1 Digital Images and Acquisition Systems
10.2 Image Processing
10.3 Measurements
10.4 Fields of Application of Image Analysis in Forensic Geology
10.4.1 Applications on Macroscopic Images
10.4.2 Applications on Images Acquired in Stereomicroscopy
10.4.3 Applications on Images Acquired in Optical Microscopy
10.4.4 Applications on Images Acquired in Scanning Electron Microscopy
References
