Evidence from the Earth: Forensic Geology and Criminal Investigation

The year 2006 was the 100th anniversary of the first scientific use of earth materials in a criminal trial. According to Murray, who wrote the book on the subject (it's called "Forensic Geology"), the first to assemble earth evidence systematically enough to present to a court was Georg Popp, a German chemist who was called in to examine evidence when a woman was strangled in a field. On a dirty handkerchief, he found traces of coal, snuff and hornblende. Dirt from the clothes and under the fingernails of a suspect matched, and he confessed. (Though Murray does not write about it, the mystery writer P.D. James and the historian T.A. Critchley used forensic geology to finger a likely suspect in one of the most sensational multiple murders of the 19th century. The investigators at the time were aware of the evidence -- otherwise James and Critchley could not have reconstructed the crime -- but unlike Popp, they were not able to use it in securing a conviction. The story is retold in "The Maul and the Pear Tree.") One of the earliest appeals court decisions that endorsed the use of geologic evidence came from Hawaii in 1933, in a rape case, Territory v. Young. The soil on the suspect's trousers matched the crime scene but not his alibi location. It isn't always simple. Murray says, "Some current television programs and books that describe forensic science confuse the roles of evidence collector, forensic examiner and investigator, giving the public the wrong idea . . . The true forensic scientist mechanically studies the evidence and presents an opinion independent of advocacy for any side in the legal issue." It isn't all about gruesome killings, either. The number of insurance cases requiring forensic geology involving international container shipments in the Age of Terrorism is disturbing. Read Murray's book and you'll never watch "CSI" without laughing again.

EVIDENCE FROM THE EARTH Forensic Geology and Criminal Investigation, by Raymond C. Murray, 2004, Missoula, MT, Mountain Press, 226 p. This book by Ray Murray is perhaps the most clearly written and definitive statement about forensic geology published to date. The author has close to 30 years experience as a forensic geologist in addition to being a renowned sedimentary geologist, a co-author of a major textbook on sedimentary geology, and a highly-respected and astute university administrator. The basic principle of forensic geology is that of transfer. Anything (hands, feet, paper, and so forth) that is in contact with another object or person causes a transfer of signature traces from each object. Identifying that ingredient which is preserved from the transfer is critical to identify key sources of that ingredient. In criminology, those sources usually are associated with crime scenes and lead to convictions or exonerations. Geological materials, whether natural or mixed with processed materials, provide an abundance of transferable ingredients and Murray illustrates the critical facts one needs to know to use such materials. The reader is taken through examples, historical improvement of technology, the nature of geological materials (written in everyday English without diminishing the technical level of what is being discussed), relevant geological principles, evidence collection, laboratory methods of examination, geophysical methods, and fraud related to the mining industry, gems and art. Each chapter focuses on one of these topics and is liberally sprinkled with actual cases that led to successful criminal prosecutions to illustrate the topic at hand. Who should read this book? In my view, it should be read by every criminal lawyer, criminal investigator, judges, expert witnesses, consultants in the forensic field, professional geologists, mystery writers and producers and directors of mystery movies and yes everyone who enjoys CSI. I highly recommend "Evidence from the earth:.." as a great read and learning experience and rate it as a five star, thumbs-up, outstanding book.