Separation of Soil Particles to Reveal Location
Abstract
Is it possible to tie an unknown soil sample back to where it came from? This question is asked when a crime has happened and it is necessary to take a soil sample from a suspect to support an alibi they may give to an investigator. By using the density of the various particles in soil, a sample of soil can be tied into the soil at a specific location. A density gradient tube, a tube that is filled with multiple mixtures with differing densities, will separate soil based on the density of the particles. Different locations of soil have different particles present in the soil based on where the location is. These differing particles come what immediately surrounds the area in question. Soils near the city may have more human made particles present while soils in remote areas may have more natural or animal particles. Based on this differentiation the particles will separate differently and thus give us a clear reading of where the soil comes from. Using the tubes, four different unknown samples were compared to five known locations. Two of the unknown samples were taken from two of the known locations and the particle distribution showed this to be true. Based on the results using density is a simple and effective method to compare soil samples.
Is it possible to tie an unknown soil sample back to where it came from? This question is asked when a crime has happened and it is necessary to take a soil sample from a suspect to support an alibi they may give to an investigator. By using the density of the various particles in soil, a sample of soil can be tied into the soil at a specific location. A density gradient tube, a tube that is filled with multiple mixtures with differing densities, will separate soil based on the density of the particles. Different locations of soil have different particles present in the soil based on where the location is. These differing particles come what immediately surrounds the area in question. Soils near the city may have more human made particles present while soils in remote areas may have more natural or animal particles. Based on this differentiation the particles will separate differently and thus give us a clear reading of where the soil comes from. Using the tubes, four different unknown samples were compared to five known locations. Two of the unknown samples were taken from two of the known locations and the particle distribution showed this to be true. Based on the results using density is a simple and effective method to compare soil samples.
