Advances in Forensic Sedimentology

Abstract

Forensic sedimentology is a relatively recently realized field. Sedimentological methods used to solve cases have evolved as the field has developed, beginning with simple identification of minerals and progressing to the examination of individual grains using highly advanced scanning electron microscopes. More simple methods, such as color analysis, are still used today, but in addition, forensic sedimentologists look at surface textures and grain size distribution. For instance, quartz grains were used in a forensic technique as sediment fingerprint. The particle size distribution is one of the important tests when analysing sediments and soils in geological studies. For forensic work, the particle size distribution of sometimes very small samples requires precise determination using a rapid and reliable method with a high resolution. FRITSCH laser granulometer offers rapid and accurate sizing of particles in the range 0.04–2000 μm for a variety of sample types, including soils, unconsolidated sediments, dusts, powders, and other particulate materials.