Cheshire, K; Morgan, RM; Holmes, J; (2016) The potential for geochemical discrimination of single- and mixed-source soil samples from close proximity urban parkland locations. Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences , 49 (2) pp. 161-174. 10.1080/00450618.2016.1144789.

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Abstract

This initial study assessed the feasibility of geochemical analysis to discriminate single- and mixed-source soil/sediment samples from close proximity sites, a key attribute for forensic comparison and crime reconstruction. Key techniques including ICP-MS, ICP-AES and XRF were able to discriminate between the sites used in this study. The findings of this experimental study provide empirical evidence that highlights the difficulties associated with interpreting data from the elemental analysis of soil samples from geographically similar locations, and demonstrates the issues associated with samples of mixed provenance. Statistical analysis of mixed-provenance samples in comparison with the single-source control sites revealed no significant difference between the mixed and single source samples illustrating that, in this particular case, the samples could not be excluded from having a similar source in direct contrast to previously published findings. This study underlines the necessity to understand further the degree of complexity that exists for the analysis and interpretation of both single- and mixed-source forensic soil/sediment samples and confirms the need for multiple independent methods to be used in order to begin to draw meaningful conclusions of forensically relevant provenance.

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