Forensic geology is best described as the application of the principles of earth sciences to the law. Earth science is a broad-spectrum discipline that covers all of the mechanisms involved in the study of the land, sea and air. In our day-to-day activities, we must travel in one of those mediums. What we do in the medium and how we cross the boundaries affects the type of evidence that could be collected at a scene. A forensic geological examination may not just entail a routine study of soil evidence. Depending on the type of incident involved, a multi disciplinary examination may be warranted.

The main use of the science is to assist law enforcement in placing persons at scenes of crime. It can also be used to track pathways of serial killers, terrorists and international thieves. We live in a highly mobile society that has many cross border criminal activities. These activities include drug shipments, smuggling, commercial theft, fraud and terrorist actions. The law enforcement officials who generally come in contact with these incidents are the front line officers. They then pass on the exhibits to the forensic investigators who continue the examination for trace evidence. However, the question remains, is the front line officer even aware of the option of a forensic geological examination in each of these main subject types. Where a drug shipment has truly originated or passed through is just as critical as knowing where a terrorist’s vehicle was loaded and it’s path to the target. A forensic geological examination may be able to provide those answers.

In today’s world, we must place as many tools as possible in the hands of law enforcement. With the collection of geological and soil products from exhibits and transport vehicles, evidence can be developed that would normally be lost. The greater the geographic distance between incident events, the greater the potential for significant evidence generation. Forensic geological analysis is based on the premise that every soil or mineral exhibit has provenance. Provenance is determined by the ability of the investigator to establish that the exhibits are site specific. The degree of individuality and nature of the specific mineralogical elements is the key in pronouncing the significance of that provenance within the confines of the incident. Being able to establish the regional provenance of a mineralogical exhibit will have more significance in an international case than a local incident.

However, localized site-specific determinations can be made by shape, textural and contamination features found within the confines of each exhibit. In highly industrialized areas, the presence and nature of localized contamination features may provide a host of statistically significant individual markers. The local geology may be homogeneous on many levels, but the position and nature of the human contaminants within the sample may provide the elements required in the investigation to merit weight in court.

In all legal proceedings, forensic examiners provide individual elements of a case. It is the duty of the courts to weigh the value and significance of each piece of evidence presented. Forensic examiners are first-degree legal historians that provide stepping-stones for the court to traverse the convolute path of a criminal investigation. A forensic geological examination forces the investigator to examine all of the potential trace evidence that may arise from an incident. By reaching down to a microscopic level, a case becomes finely focused and well defined. When the fine elements of an evidence chain are clear, the entire investigational process is strengthened.

A forensic geological examination may include air photograph or satellite imagery interpretation, or the use of geophysical or highly specialized analytical laboratory instrumentation. Each if these tools are important to the investigator in a range of incident types. The list of incident types is not confined to, but include, arson, bombings, locating and the examination of clandestine graves and poaching.

The power and value of a forensic geological examination can only be fully appreciated once it’s past uses are detailed in case studies. Enlightened investigators will then see how this type of examination can assist in developing other facets of an investigation that may otherwise be lost. Every criminal investigation deserves to have all potential avenues of examination explored and utilized if appropriate.