GEOLOGY/SOILS/MINERALS/ASBESTOS

Examinations are performed to characterize, identify and compare soil evidence which may help to establish an association between individuals, objects and/or locations. A detailed examination of soil recovered from bodies, clothing, vehicles, etc. are used as an investigative tool in identifying a soil’s geographic source. The variety of constituents in soil which may be characterized include minerals, diatoms, phytoliths, pollen, vegetative materials, cultural and agricultural constituents such as building materials, paint, metals, tire rubber, and fertilizers. Examinations are based primarily on soil color, identification and comparison of minerals and non-mineral components using stereobinocular microscopy and polarized light microscopy (PLM). Instrumental techniques such as x-ray diffraction (XRD), infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) may be required on a case by case basis.