FORENSIC GEOLOGY CASE STUDIES FROM THE NORTHWEST

A forensic geologist commonly examines soil collected from a known source and performs a comparison to questioned soils from a suspect environment, such as on a vehicle or from tools or clothing. On occasion, man-made materials are present in soil which will enhance the probative value of the soil comparison. A variey of atypical cases from a broad range of materials will be presented including cat litter, bricks, stibnite, diatomaceous earth, meteorites, arsenic and biogenic glass.