Sort:
Issue
The Application of Multi-techniques for Joint Analysis of Rock in Case Investigation
Chinese Journal of Forensic Sciences 2026, 2026(1): 48-54
Published: 15 January 2026
Abstract PDF (2 MB) Collect
Downloads:17
Objective

The application of analysis of geological materials like rocks in forensic science is growing. It is of great significance to adopt multi-techniques for joint analysis.

Methods

This study employed X-ray diffraction (XRD) combined with Rietveld full spectrum fitting quantification, polarized light microscope (PLM), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), and scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS). These techniques were used to investigate the mineral and element composition of rock samples from crime scenes and suspects’ residence.

Results

The study identified calcite altered by dolomitization, quartz, and illite in two samples. The main elements detected included magnesium, aluminum, silicon, phosphorus, sulfur, potassium, calcium, iron, and strontium. In the correlation calculation, the semi-quantitative data of minerals, oxides, and elements from two samples were set as index values, and the correlation coefficient between the samples was calculated. The coefficients were 0.999 by using the cosine of the angle and 0.965 by the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient method.

Conclusion

The results suggested a probable common origin for the two rock samples. This study provides valuable tools and technical support for identifying geological materials such as rock, ore and solid waste in criminal investigation.

Open Access Research Article Issue
Quantitative Characterization of Homemade Ammonium Nitrate Explosives Based on Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD) Patterns with Rietveld Refinement
Forensic Science and Technology 2026, 51(1): 9-15
Published: 24 December 2024
Abstract PDF (2.1 MB) Collect
Downloads:12

Industrial explosives are usually strictly controlled, with many sales links and high prices, which bring great profits to the homemade explosives. In recent years, cases of illegal manufacturing, trading, transportation and storage of ammonium nitrate explosives have frequently occurred. The raw materials for homemade ammonium nitrate explosives are widely available and easy to obtain. These result in the complex compositions and formulations. Accurate qualitative and quantitative characterization of its composition is of great significance for comparison, tracing and case investigation. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) has become an efficient method to identify the component. However, it is still in the qualitative stage, i.e. matching of the phase and lack of quantitative method to illustrate the content of each substance in mixtures. In this paper, a quantitative method based on PXRD is described, including pre-processing method, sample preparation, instrument parameter settings and full spectrum fitting method. Firstly, the crystalline phase and amorphous phase components contained in the sample are accurately judged. Subsequently, Rietveld refinement method is used in which multi-dimensional factors such as structural parameters, peak parameters, instrument parameters are all included. The differences between the measured pattern and the calculated pattern is the target function and the optimization algorithm is used to obtain model parameter. After refinement fitting, the best structural parameters and other parameters including content of each component are all identified. The method can realize the quantitative characterization of powder, granular, or block solids. It can provide an important basis for the comparison and tracing of such evidences, so as to further correlate the cases.

Total 2