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Journals
Forensic Sciences
Special Issues
The Role of Forensic Geology in Criminal Investigations
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The Role of Forensic Geology in Criminal Investigations

A special issue of Forensic Sciences (ISSN 2673-6756).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2024 | Viewed by 2648

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Pier Matteo Barone

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Archaeology and Classics Program, American University of Rome, Via Pietro Roselli 4, 00153 Rome, Italy
Interests: archaeological methods and science; remote sensing and GIS; landscape archaeology; archaeological prospections; forensic archaeology; forensic geophysics; forensic geoscience; art crime; cultural heritage protection
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Rosa Maria Di Maggio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Geoscienze Forensi Italia®- Frensic Geoscience Italy, Rome, Italy
Interests: forensic geology; forensic pedology; forensic geoscience; forensic geomorphology; remote sensing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Laurance Donnelly

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Alfred H Knight International, Kings Business Park, Kings Drive, Prescot L34 1J, UK
Interests: forensic geology; police search; law enforcement; crime scene examination; geological trace evidence; soil forensics; search and rescue; mineral exploration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mariano Mercurio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Science and Technology, Universtà degli Studi del Sannio, Benevento, Italy
Interests: spectroscopy
Dr. Alastair Ruffell

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of the Natural Built Environment, Queen’s University, University Road, Belfast BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland, UK
Interests: archaeological prospections; geoarchaeology; cultural heritage diagnostics; remote sensing; GIS; geoscience; forensic archaeology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to collect high-quality submissions in the research field of forensic geology. Forensic geology can be used in a variety of investigations, such as the search for missing persons, the analysis of soil and rock samples at a crime scene, the identification of materials used in the commission of a crime, the analysis of natural disasters, and the investigation of environmental crimes. We encourage researchers from various fields within the journals’ scope to contribute papers that address the latest developments in their research field or invite relevant experts and colleagues to do so.

The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following: soil and sediment analysis (involving the analysis of soil and sediment samples to determine their composition, texture, and other physical characteristics) which is used to link a suspect or victim to a crime scene, or to identify the origin of soil found on a suspect's clothing or footwear; rock and mineral analysis (involving the analysis of rocks and minerals found at a crime scene, such as those used as weapons or in the construction of a building); geomorphology to study the physical features of the earth's surface, such as mountains, valleys, and rivers, to help identify the location of a crime or the source of a natural disaster; environmental analysis to study environmental problems, such as pollution, deforestation, and illegal dumping; and geoarchaeology to understand the environment and the dynamics of a crime, through the study of high-definition aerial and satellite images, detailed thematic mapping, geophysics, as well as on-site detection.

Both original research articles and comprehensive review papers are welcome. You are welcome to send short proposals for Special Issue feature papers to our Editorial Office ([email protected]) prior to submission.

Dr. Pier Matteo Barone
Dr. Rosa Maria Di Maggio
Dr. Laurance Donnelly
Dr. Mariano Mercurio
Dr. Alastair Ruffell
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forensic Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • forensic geology
  • forensic mineralogy
  • forensic geoscience
  • forensic geomorphology
  • forensic pedology
  • forensic geoarchaeology

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 3941 KiB  
Article
A Reflective Spectroscopy Proof-of-Concept Study of Urea for Supporting Investigations of Human Waste in Multiple Forensic Contexts
by Lilly McClelland, Ethan Belak, Juliana Curtis, Ethan Krekeler, April Sanders and Mark P. S. Krekeler
Forensic Sci. 2024, 4(3), 463-474; https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci4030030 - 20 Sep 2024
Viewed by 738
Abstract
Human urine and its detection are of interest in forensic studies in numerous contexts. Both crystalline urea and 1.0 M solutions of urea, as synthetic analog endmember components of human urine, were investigated as a proof-of-concept study to determine if detailed lab spectroscopy [...] Read more.
Human urine and its detection are of interest in forensic studies in numerous contexts. Both crystalline urea and 1.0 M solutions of urea, as synthetic analog endmember components of human urine, were investigated as a proof-of-concept study to determine if detailed lab spectroscopy would be viable. Urea was reliably detected on Ottawa sand at concentrations of approximately 3.2% in dried experiments. Urea was detectable after 1 week of solution evaporation under lab conditions, at 9.65 wt.% 1 M solution. This investigation successfully establishes urea as a material of interest for reflective spectroscopy and hyperspectral remote sensing/image spectroscopy on a wide range of spatial scales, from specific centimeter-scale areas in a crime scene to searching large outdoor regions > 1 km2. In addition, this investigation is relevant to improving the monitoring of human trafficking, status and condition of refugee camps, and monitoring sewage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Forensic Geology in Criminal Investigations)
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13 pages, 3626 KiB  
Article
Discovering Halite Traces on a Victim’s Clothing through a Forensic Geoscience Analytical Approach: A Suspicious Case in Italy
by Marcelo da Silveira Tortolero Araujo Lourenço, Rosa Maria Di Maggio, Chiara Germinario, Celestino Grifa, Francesco Izzo, Alessio Langella and Mariano Mercurio
Forensic Sci. 2024, 4(3), 396-408; https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci4030024 - 5 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1020
Abstract
This suspect case focuses on investigating the presence of halite (NaCl) crystals on the clothing of a deceased individual to determine whether they resulted from immersion in seawater or residual absorption after immersion (i.e., the crystals were left on the clothing after contact [...] Read more.
This suspect case focuses on investigating the presence of halite (NaCl) crystals on the clothing of a deceased individual to determine whether they resulted from immersion in seawater or residual absorption after immersion (i.e., the crystals were left on the clothing after contact with the victim’s wet body). Thirteen clothing samples were collected from various garments worn by the victim and were subjected to optical stereomicroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), coupled with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and Simultaneous Thermal Analysis (STA). Optical stereomicroscopy revealed numerous white-colored, vitreous, and greasy luster microcrystals dispersed between fabric fibers, with higher concentrations observed near the hem seams and metal rivets. These microcrystals exhibited predominantly cubic and irregular morphologies. Additionally, sandy particles and organic elements, such as plant fragments and micro seashells, were detected, indicative of coastal environment exposure. SEM-EDS analysis confirmed the presence mainly of sodium and chlorine in stoichiometric ratios consistent with halite, with crystals exhibiting amorphous, needle-shaped, or cubic morphologies. Furthermore, STA analysis identified weight loss events attributed to organic decomposition and halite decomposition at high temperatures, corroborating SEM-EDS findings. The distribution and characteristics of halite crystals, along with other trace elements, support the hypothesis of immersion in seawater while wearing clothing. Specifically, the higher concentrations of halite crystals near thicker fabric portions and metal rivets suggest slower drying rates and longer evaporation times, indicative of immersion rather than residual absorption after swimming. This finding not only helps in determining the victim’s exposure to seawater but also establishes a methodology for distinguishing between different sources of halite residue on clothing. Overall, the comprehensive mineralogical characterization of halite crystals on clothing samples, using best practices of forensic mineralogy, provides valuable forensic insights related to the circumstances that led to the victim’s death. This approach aided investigators in reconstructing the sequence of events, enhancing the accuracy of forensic reconstructions. Moreover, this study contributes to the broader field of forensic geoscience by demonstrating the practical applications of mineralogical analysis in criminal investigations, potentially guiding future research and improving investigative techniques in similar cases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Forensic Geology in Criminal Investigations)
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