Soil and Forensic Geology

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Soil and Forensic Geology
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What Is Soil?

• Mixture of organic and inorganic material
• May range from 100 inorganic (sand) to nearly
  100 organic (peat)
• Inorganic part is minerals
• Organic part is decayed plant and animal material
  and is sometimes called humus

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Forensic Significance of Soil

• Soil is class evidence - cannot be individualized
  to a particular location
• There is no classification system for soils
• Soils can be easily transported
• Soils within a few meters horizontally or
  vertically differ

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Forensic Analysis of Soils

• Bulk analysis
• Density gradient
• Particle size distribution (sieving)
• Inorganic components
• Color (dissolve in water)
• Petrography - mineral analysis Requires a good
  deal of skill and practice

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Forensic Analysis of Soils

• Organic components
• Liquid chromatography
• Oxygen availability
• Bacterial DNA? - Future possibility

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Why is soil such a good source of evidence?

• Large Variations of soil characteristics
• Extreme Complexity of its composition
• Minerals
• Oxides
• Organic Matter
• Microorganisms
• Artificial additions (concrete, asphalt,
  plastics)
• Runoff additions (salt, fertilizers, pesticides)
• Manufactured products glass, paint, asphalt,
  brick, industrial products,
• Complex Physical Nature
• Varies due to above compositions

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Forensic Geologists

• The forensic Geologists examinations involve the
  identification of
• Earth materials
• Comparison of samples to determine common source
• Studies that aid a criminal investigations and
  intelligence studies.

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Forensic Geology In Intelligence Work

• Remember the outcrop you saw behind Osama bin
  Laden on TV after September 11. What was the
  location?
• A geologist who has done field work in the area
  would be able to locate that outcrop, and that
  actually happened Geologist John Shroder was
  able to identify the region where bin Laden had
  been sighted in Afghanistan in 2001 (see
  Geotimes, February 2002).

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Forensic Geologists of the Past

• Starting in 1887 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote The
  Sherlock Holmes series used soil and residues
  many times to link individuals to specific
  locations.
• In 1893, Hans Gross, authored Handbook for
  Examining Magistrates. In it he suggested
  that the dirt on someone's shoes could tell more
  about where a person had last been than many
  other techniques used in that time.

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The Eva Disch Case

• In October 1904 a dirty handkerchief containing
  bits of coal, snuff, and grains of the mineral
  hornblend was found at the murder scene of a
  seamstress named, Eva Disch.
• A suspect was found who used snuff, and worked
  part-time at both a coal burning gas works and a
  quarry that had an abundance of the mineral
  hornblend.
• The suspect also had two layers of dirt in his
  pant cuffs. The lower layer matched the soil at
  the crime scene and the upper layer,
  characterized by a particular type of mica
  particle, matched the soil found on the path to
  the victim's home.
• When confronted with the evidence the suspect
  confessed. (Murray and Tedrow, 1991, p. 4)

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Forensic Geologists

• The microscope is and will remain an important
  tool.
• Qualifications and competence of examiners is a
  major problem.
• Should those qualifications be regionalized?
• The future will see
• Improved training of those who collect and
  analyze samples
• Increased automated methods of examination
• Improved research
• The diversity of soils
• What parts of soil are transferred during various
  types of contacts and could their be a pattern

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Forensic Geologists Questions

• Interconnected by the following questions
• What is this material?
• Where did this material come from?
• Is this material unique to a crime scene or
  unique to circumstances under which a criminal
  act was committed?
• What is the geologic context of a crime scene?

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My Husband Went hunting and never came home ?

• A pond with bentonite (clayish mud) in the
  mountains of western Colorado proved to be a
  really great place to camp for John Dodson.

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Physical Properties of Soil

• Soil Texture, Structure, Compaction
• is the percent of sand, silt and clay in a soil.
• sand is the coarsest (0.06 - 2 mm)
• silt is intermediate (0.002 - 0.06 mm)
• clay is the finest (lt0.002 mm)

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Soil Texture

• The texture of a soil is determined by the
  percentages of particles like sand, silt, clay
  that it contains.

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Physical Properties of Soil
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Soil Comparison

• Simple observations using local geologists
• Color of dry sample, (1,100 controls)
• Texture of dry sample
• Composition
• Mineralogy, mineral crystalline solid
• 2,200 minerals,
• 40 commonly seen
• ROCKS COMPOSION VARIES BASED ON MINERAL
  COMPOSITION
• Mineral content
• Grain size
• LP Microscopy, shows animal, plant and
  artificial remains and their s
• Side by side comparison

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Minerals

• Minerals are used by various commercial and
  industrial companies.
• Brick, shale, plaster, and concrete are all found
  in many indoor products, drywall insulation.
• Robbery suspects often have minerals within
  clothing fibers.
• Why????
• Locards Exchange Principle

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Locards Exchange Principle

• The exchange of materials between two objects
  that occurs whenever tow objects come into
  contact.

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Physical Properties of Soil Organics

• Humus a mixture of organic material that binds
  nutrient mineral ions and holds water.
• Detritivores like Earthworms, termites, and ants
  help to breakdown humus.
• Humus persists in agricultural soil for about 20
  years.
• Humus ? CO2 H2O nutrient minerals

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Physical Properties of Soil(Organisms)

• Bacterial and Protozoan colonies
• Plant litter
• Fungi
• Animal
• Most common insects, arachnids, and annelids
• Materials in varying states of decomposition

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Physical Properties of Soil Soil Pore Spaces

• Pore spaces Occupy about 50 of a soils volume
  and can be filled with H2O (soil H2O) or air
  (soil air).
• Soil air is found in larger pores.
• Soil H2O is found in smaller pores (0.05mm).

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Physical Properties of Soil Soil Horizons

• Horizontal layers of organized soil.
• A soil profile is a vertical section from surface
  to parent material.

Differentiated Instruction Alert
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Soil Horizon Basic
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Soil Horizon Basic

• Boreal Forest

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Soil Horizons
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Soil Horizons for Honors??
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Soil Collection

• Various interval 100 yard radius of the CS.
• Sampling Surface and Subsurface layers
• Approximately 1 tablespoon per sample
• Individual plastic vials
• On Suspect
• Both soil and object are wrapped in paper
• Layering effect on vehicles occurs over time due
  to sedimentation
• Collected separately only if jarred loose

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Laboratory Possibilities

• Soil Comparisons
• Soil nutrients, Nitrate and Phosphorus
• Water holding capacity
• Texture
• pH
• Organic Content
• Sieve Percent Composition
• Undisturbed vs. newly disturbed soil
• Density

• Leads to other chapters
• Crime Scene
• Impression
• Foot and tire
• Anthropology
• Botanicals
• Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
  (ICPMS)
• (Ask Mark He can get you one)

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Soil Comparison

• Differences in soils can identify location of
  victims, suspects, or the crime scene.
• Or Inconsistencies between them!!
• Remember the DEA SA Camarena?

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Disturbed Soil Comparison
Newly disturbed Soil showing O-Layer(Organic)
fresh, organic topsoillayer
OldUndisturbedSoil same consistent color
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Excavations
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Lab Investigating Soil Core Sampling
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Lab Finding Your Past

• Objective Locate evidence of a past structure
  that is no longer in existence.
• Hint Try to remember past homes, hangouts,
  relatives homes . Can you think of a structure
• Change the color of your house?
• Relocate a structure?

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Lab Finding Your Past
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Lab Finding Your Past
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Lab Finding Your Past
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Charcoal tells us what??

• Another Attempted Cremation Like Hitler, Joseph
  and Magda Goebbels were cremated. The bodies of
  their six children remained in the bunker. They
  were found by Russian soldiers when Berlin fell
  to the Allies.

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Density-Gradient Tube

• Glass tubes measuring 6 to 10 millimetres in
  diameter and 25 to 40 centimetres in length are
  filled with several layers of two liquids mixed
  in varying proportions such that each layer has a
  different density.
• An example is the mixture of tetrabromoethane,
  which has a density of 2.96 gmL-1 with ethane,
  with a density of 0.789 gmL-1.
• The soil components then sink to the layers
  corresponding to their own density values and the
  distribution of particles can be compared between
  soil specimens.

Sample from Crime Scene
Sports Pitch
College Gardens
Courtyard
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Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
(ICP-MS)

• The coupling of ICP-MS shows many advantages over
  other analysis techniques.
• Benefits of the ICP over other radiation sources
  include improvement in excitation and ionization
  efficiencies and the reduction or elimination of
  many of the chemical interferences found in
  flames or furnaces.
• Mass spectrometry generates a large amount of
  information, has high throughput capabilities,
  high sensitivity and low limits of detection.
  ICP-MS is capable of multi-elemental detection
  which reduces analysis time and therefore
  increases sample throughput. ICP-MS is one of the
  few analytical techniques that permits the
  quantifying of elemental isotopic concentrations
  and ratios.
• It can achieve very low limits of detection

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Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
(ICP-MS)

• An analysis of the elemental composition of the
  soil.
• The plasma is formed by argon gas flowing through
  a radiofrequency field where it is kept in a
  state of partial ionization, i.e. the gas
  consists partly of electrically charged
  particles. This allows it to reach very high
  temperatures of up to approx. 10,000ºC.
• The sample being analyzed is introduced into the
  plasma as a fine droplet aerosol. ICP-MS is the
  combination of an ICP with a mass spectrometer
  (MS).
• The ions generated by the ICP are directed into
  the MS, which separates the ions according to
  their mass-to-charge ratio. Thus, ions of a
  selected mass-to-charge ratio can be detected and
  quantified.

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Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
(ICP-MS)
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Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
(ICP-MS)
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Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
(ICP-MS)
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Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
(ICP-MS)
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Finito
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Links
Website link Analytical Techniques for the
Comparison of Soil Samples

• www.channel4.co.uk/.../S/science/
  images/fracture.gif
• http//www.file///C/InetTemp/Content.IE5/QFML278
  9/256,1,All About Glass
• http//www.adtdl.army.mil/cgi-bin/atdl.dll/fm/19-2
  0/Ch10.htm

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Sewage leak do to inadequate Support
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Sherlock Holmes

• observation shows me that you have been to the
  Post Office this morning, but deduction lets me
  know that you dispatched a telegram.

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Sherlock Holmes

• It is simplicity itself. Observation tells me
  that you have a little reddish (soil) mould
  adhering to your instep. Just opposite the post
  office they have taken up the pavement and thrown
  up some earth. (It is) impossible to go to the
  post office without treading that dirt. The
  earth is a particular reddish color not found
  anywhere else in town observation the rest is
  deduction.

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Some Interesting? Cases Where Geological Evidence
Has Been Important

• Florida v. William Kennedy Smith
• South Dakota v. Donald Eugene Moeller
• Colorado v. Walter Osborne
• The Death of a DEA agent Enrico Camarena

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Florida v. William Kennedy Smith

• WKS accused of rape of Patricia Bowman
• Alleged attack on grass lawn behind Kennedy
  estate in W. Palm Beach, Fl
• WKS alleged consensual sex on the beach near
  estate
• Jay Siegel used PLM to compare samples from
  clothing of victim to lawn and beach areas
• Samples consistent with beach, not lawn
• WKS acquitted of rape

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South Dakota v. Donald Eugene Moeller

• Capital murder case of 9-year old Becky OConnell
  on May 8, 1990.
• Testimony by soil expert refutes defendant alibi
• Victim snatched off street, raped, killed, body
  dumped in woods.
• Suspicion fell on Defendant because of prior sex
  crime involvement.
• Found guilty and sentenced to death. Appeal
  resulted in reversal owing to admission of
  evidence of prior bad acts.

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South Dakota v. Donald Eugene Moeller (cont.)

• SD Supreme Court reversed and reinstated
  conviction
• State geologist analyzed soil found in wheel
  wells of defendant pickup truck. Issue was
  whether soil came from crime scene South of Sioux
  Falls or from a road North of Sioux Falls where
  defendant claimed he was at time of crime
• Geologist testified that soil could have come
  from crime scene.
• Opinion based on
• Colors and general characteristics
• Soil was much lighter or could not have come from
  other roads in area
• Sharp, clean hornblende crystals much more
  likely to have come from crime scene area

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South Dakota v. Donald Eugene Moeller (cont)

• Part of appeal called for striking geologists
  testimony as being too speculative as to
  conclusions
• At 2nd trial, geologist came into more evidence
  from scene and wheel well dark green to black
  gahnite found at scene and in evidence from
  truck. This mineral extremely rare.

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South Dakota v. Donald Eugene Moeller (cont)

• Defense argued that geologist erred in
  identifying gahnite only by visual inspection.
  Claimed that PLM should have been used (to
  confirm that gahnite is isotropic) and that x-ray
  diffraction should have been used to confirm.
  Appeals court rejected appeal
• There was no discussion at trial whether the
  finding of both hornblende and gahnite near Sioux
  Falls was a rarity or could be due to processing
  after mining elsewhere. Bedrock of Sioux Falls
  contains neither hornblende nor gahnite.

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Colorado v. Walter Osborne

• Osborne botches kidnapping of Adolph Coors from
  his ranch near Morrison and kills Coors
• Ranch is near Dakota Hogback which is made of
  Dakota sandstone underlain by gray, green and
  maroon clay stones, shales, more sandstone and
  limestone. Dirt road near ranch was essentially
  eroded, pulverized components of hogback.

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Colorado v. Walter Osborne (cont)

• During kidnapping, a fight broke out and Osborne
  shot Coors. Fled in Osbornes yellow Mercury
  with body. Fled south onto an unpaved road in
  next county. Then went west and climbed. Road
  made of muddled dust pink-feldspar. Dust was
  granite, but compared to bedrock was deficient in
  iron and magnesium.
• As he climbed further, came into Pikes Peak
  granite very distinctive.

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Colorado v. Walter Osborne (cont)

• At 7200 ft, Osborne dumped body in dump used by
  an Ashram. Body would not be found for 7 months.
  
• Osborne went east and went on an unpaved road of
  black slags and drifted sands on a New Jersey
  barrier island. He hid car and torched it with
  gasoline.

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Colorado v. Walter Osborne (cont)

• FBI investigation turned up Osborne in New Jersey
• Although Osborne (discovered to be Joseph
  Corbett, Jr) covered his tracks well but was
  writing his itinerary on the bottom of his car.
• 4 depositional strata found
• 4th contained material from around New Jersey
  dump where he burned car
• 3rd contained pink feldspars of Pikes Peak
  granite near where body was found
• 2nd had materials from Morrison hogback formation
  around Coors rangch
• 1st had pink feldspars of other Front Range
  granites generally related to Rocky Mountain
  Front Range

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Death of a DEA Agent Enrico Camarena

• Story of how FBI geologist, Ron Rawalt was able
  to determine, with certainty, where Camarena body
  was buried, thus showing that Mexican govt. lied
  about how he was killed.
• He noticed a TV report of the killings. The body
  was shown with soil clinging to it. The soil was
  obviously of a different color than the soil from
  the alleged burial site.

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Death of a DEA Agent Enrico Camarena (cont)

• He told the govt. that he could prove, with soil
  analysis alone, that Mexican govt. was lying
  about the murder.
• He went to Mexico and collected a spoonful of
  soil from Camarena body. He compared that to the
  soil from the alleged burial site and found them
  to be entirely different.

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Death of a DEA Agent Enrico Camarena (cont)

• Soil from body
• Spoke of mountains
• 98 rhyolite ash (clean, high in silica, angular,
  vesicular) could be described as airfall
  pumice
• Bixbyite blacker than coal
• Pink glass of exceptional depth and richness of
  color, he had never seen anything like it, except
  in candy
• 2 kinds of cristobalite opalized and clear,
  elongate and faceted, clear polygonal columns
  (octehedrons). Resembled branch coral. Very
  rare to find both types together.

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Death of a DEA Agent Enrico Camarena (cont)

• Pinpointing location
• Research with Geological Survey and Smithsonian
  minerologists located specific location A
  Jalisco state park called Bosques de la Primvera.
  Cristabolite was the result of a third-event
  calderea formation.
• Location is on upslope of mountain in park or
  park itself
• Rawalt flew to Mexico as DEA agent (FBI agents
  were not allowed in to investigate

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Death of a DEA Agent Enrico Camarena (cont)

• While Rawalt was in Mexico searching for the area
  of burial, FBI was approached about a French
  consultant, Loic Le Ribault. He was the head
  petrologist for the French national oil company
  and was said to be able to do things geologically
  speaking, that other people couldnt do. Show
  him a few grains of sand and he could tell you
  where they came from

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Death of a DEA Agent Enrico Camarena (cont)

• Le Ribault
• FBI tested him by giving him 3 samples
• Ash from Mt. St. Helens
• Alluvium from river delta in S. Carolina related
  to recent murder
• Dirt from girders taken from bomb site in Beirut,
  Lebanon
• Ribaults results
• Got location of ash from Mt. St. Helens within a
  few miles of source
• River basin in American Southest
• Bekaa valley in Lebanon soil had been subjected
  to explosion

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Death of a DEA Agent Enrico Camarena (cont)

• Le Ribaults contribution to Camarena case
• Was showed samples from park and body. He said
  you are there, but not there. Right elevation,
  but these are samples (from park) from an area
  washing north. The site is an area washing
  south.
• Sand deposited by water 4-5 ft. deep in a draw.
  Slope of draw lt10 degrees. Shade predominates.
• Rawalt found exact location from this data.

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Soil and Arsenic poisoning

•    Washington State Patrol Forensic Geologist
  Bill Schneck became involved in the investigation
  into the serious illness of a small child caused
  by arsenic poisoning.
• The suspected person was absolved when an
  examination of the child's house revealed a
  number of mineral specimens left in the house and
  the yard by a former occupant who was a mineral
  collector. Many of those specimens were
  arsenopyrite, an iron arsenic sulfide.
• The child had been eating and chewing on the
  material.

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An Early Case The Father Patrick Heslin Case

• In Colma, California on 2 August 1921 a priest,
  Father Patrick Heslin, was kidnapped and a ransom
  note was received, but there was no further
  contact from the kidnapper.
• The priest's body was found on a local beach by
  William Hightower, a master baker. However, sand
  grains found on Hightower's knife and in his room
  matched the beach sand at the site where the body
  was found. Hightower was convicted of the murder
  and sentenced to life imprisonment in San Quentin.