An Introduction to Forensic Geoscience [Hardcover]

An Introduction to Forensic Geoscience provides fundamental training in geoscience as developed through the lens of its forensic applications. It incorporates a range of topics including geophysical methods of grave detection, the mineralogy of art, identification of microfossils, and comparison of soil trace evidence samples. Each topic is introduced using core concepts that are developed with increasing complexity in order to give readers an understanding of the underlying scientific principles involved and a taste of the wide range of possible forensic uses. A variety of detailed reference tables have been compiled for the text and each chapter contains lists of references to applicable textbooks and journal articles. Examples of real criminal cases are also presented in each chapter to make the connections between theory and real world application. The goal of this book is to give readers a familiarity with the wide range of ways in which geoscience principles and geological materials can be utilized forensically.

Additional resources for this book can be found at: http://www.wiley.com/go/bergslien/forensicgeoscience.

List of Tables and Figures vii

List of Color Plates xxv

List of Cases xxviii

Preface xxx

Acknowledgments xxxii

1 A Brief History of Forensic Science and Crime Scene Basics 1

Scene of the Crime 14

Processing the Crime Scene 16

Types of Evidence 20

Further Reading 22

References 23

2 Minerals: The Basic Building Blocks of Geology 24

Mineralogical Fraud 24

Minerals 29

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