Morphological Analysis of Opal Phytoliths for Soil Discrimination in Forensic Science Investigation

The introduction of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray analysis to forensic science has provided additional methods by which investigative evidence can be analyzed. The importance of evidence from the scene of a crime or from the personal belongings of a victim and suspect has resulted in the development and evaluation of SEM/x-ray analysis applications to various types of forensic evidence. The intent of this paper is to describe some of these applications and to relate their importance to the investigation of criminal cases.The depth of field and high resolution of the SEM are an asset to the evaluation of evidence with respect to surface phenomena and physical matches (1). Fig. 1 shows a Phillips screw which has been reconstructed after the head and shank were separated during a hit-and-run accident.

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Forensic Identifications Aided by Scanning Electron Microscopy of Silicone-Epoxy Microreplicas of Calcified and Cornified Structures

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100117017 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 33 ◽

pp. 678-679 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

R.F. Sognnaes

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽

Forensic Science ◽

George Washington ◽

Epithelial Surface ◽

Extended Application ◽

Tissue Surfaces ◽

Non Destructive ◽

Scanning Electron ◽

Surface Changes

Sufficient experience has been gained during the past five years to suggest an extended application of microreplication and scanning electron microscopy to problems of forensic science. The author's research was originally initiated with a view to develop a non-destructive method for identification of materials that went into objects of art, notably ivory and ivories. This was followed by a very specific application to the identification and duplication of the kinds of materials from animal teeth and tusks which two centuries ago went into the fabrication of the ivory dentures of George Washington. Subsequently it became apparent that a similar method of microreplication and SEM examination offered promise for a whole series of problems pertinent to art, technology and science. Furthermore, what began primarily as an application to solid substances has turned out to be similarly applicable to soft tissue surfaces such as mucous membranes and skin, even in cases of acute, chronic and precancerous epithelial surface changes, and to post-mortem identification of specific structures pertinent to forensic science.

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