The forensic utility of reworked geological materials in soil

Geological materials such as rock fragments, microfossils and mineral grains are continuously being entrained (i.e. reworked) into soil during natural weathering processes. Distinctive reworked types in soil, specific components of them palynomorphs (organic microfossils), can prove extremely useful forensic investigations, i.e. to connect (match) people places. If the outcrop area a unique is small well mapped, it potentially has substantial evidentiary value studies. Furthermore, clay minerals, geochemical data minerals may support presence suspect at crime scene. Modern pollen spores extracted from samples investigations be invaluable linking suspects scenes. This because majority localities, especially those with vegetation, have characteristic (often unique) floral character. Reworked largely pre-Quaternary) other microscopic fossils co-occur situ (indigenous) spores. these forms relatively short geological ranges, they indicate age bedrock, thereby further helping place person location. However, stratigraphically recycled somewhat rare sporadic, many units entirely or virtually devoid palynomorphs. glacial sediments till provide highly mixed palynomorph associations due their typically heterogenous nature. These diverse assemblages frequently distinctive hence very powerful evidence. The potential derived bedrock for absolutely clear. Hence, use microfossils, should considered any major where evidence includes soil.