Forensics Soil/ Glass Analysis

layers of soil

humus, topsoil, subsoil, parent material, bedrock

types of rocks

igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic

types of soil

loamy, sandy, clay

what is the purpose of soil for forensic examination?

may establish a relationship or link to the crime, victim, or suspect

what are fossils?

remains of plants and animals

class characteristics of soil

type of soil may have similar characteristics as the crime scene, suspect, or victim

individual characteristics of soil

unusual or specialized ingredient such as pollen, seed, vegetation, or fragments

sand characteristics

shape, grain size, sorting

glass characteristics

hard, amorphous solid, usually transparent, composed of silica with various oxides

common types of glass

soda-lime, soda-lead, borosilicate, silica, tempered lamented

what is the becke line?

a “halo” that can be seen on the inside of the glass on the left, indicates it has a higher refractive index

physical characteristics/ type of glass

refractive index, density, color, chemical composition