Republic of the Philippines

CENTRAL BICOL STATE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE

Impig, Sipocot, Camarines
Sur 4408

Website: www.cbsua.edu.ph
Email Address:
cbsua.sipocot@cbsua.edu.ph
Trunkline: (054) 881-6681

2. Struck coins – Made by striking or stamping

CHAPTER 9
method. Consist of making an impression of a
coin on a metal blank by pressure. Stamping is
METALLURGY (AS APPLIED TO CRIME done by way of steel dies. Often well executed. Its
DETECTION) detection is not easy since weight, specific gravity,
In criminal investigation, the branch of science composition may be all good. Careful comparison
known as metallurgy will in most instance be a great of smaller details of the design with those of the
help in the solution of baffling problems involving genuine should be made. Examination of
pieces of metal or metal articles. Robbery, arson, Counterfeit coins involves chemical and physical
murder, kidnapping, hit and run and counterfeiting are method.
examples of this investigative work.
TAMPERED SERIAL NUMBERS - are restored by
METALLURGY – The art of application of etching fluid. Etching fluid is fluid used
extracting and working on to restore tampered serial numbers. Choice of etching
metals by the application of depends on the structure of the metal bearing the
chemical and physical original numbers.
knowledge.
ETCHING FLUIDS
METALLOGRAPHY – Branch of metallurgy that 1. for cast iron and cast steel – 10% sulfuric acid and
involves the study of the microstructure of metal and potassium dichromate.
alloys. All metals are composed of minute grains or
crystals, under the naked eye and when viewed from 2. For wrought iron and forged iron – solution no.
the distance a metal appears to be homogenous but 1(hydrochloric acid is 80 ml, water is 60 ml, cupric
when viewed under a metallography microscope the chloride is 2.9 grams and alcohol is 50 ml) Solution
crystal structure is visible. These crystals of metal are no. 2 (15% of nitric acid)
tightly packed
3. For aluminum – glycerin is 30 ml, nitric acid is 10
APPLICATION OF METALLURGY IN ml, and hydrofluoric acid is 20 ml.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
4. For lead – 3 parts of glacial acetic acid and one
1. Robbery part water.
2. Theft
3. Hit and Run 5. For stainless steel – dilute sulfuric acid or 10%
4. Bomb and Explosion hydrochloric acid in alcohol.
5. Nail Examination
6. Counterfeit Coins 6. For copper, brass, silver and other copper alloy –
7. Restoration of the Tampered serial numbers ferric chloride – 19 grams, hydrochloric acid -6 ml,
and water-100 ml.
Counterfeit Coins - are coins made to imitate
the real thing and used for gain. 7. for tin- 10 % sodium hydroxide.

Two Kinds of Counterfeit Coins 8. for zinc – 10% sodium hydroxide

1. Cast coins – Coins made in 9. For silver- Concentrated nitric acid

molds.
10. For gold and platinum – aqua regia (3 parts of
hydrochloric acid and one part nitric acid)

Struck Coins - Coins made by 11. for wood – subject to a jet of steam.
striking or stamping method.
PRINCIPLE INVOLVED IN THE RESTORATION
OF TAMPERED SERIAL NUMBER
HOW ARE COUNTERFEIT COINS MADE
When a serial number or any mark is stamped on
1. Cast Coins – An impression of genuine coin is metal, the crystalline structure of the metal in the
taken by use of Plaster of Paris, clay or bronze. The neighborhood of the stamp is disturbed. The
plaster molds bearing the image of good coin are filled disturbance penetrates to an appreciable distance
within a low temperature alloy made with lead or tin. into the substance of metal, but not visible to the
Sand molds are used for high temperature metal such naked eye once the actual indentation cause by the
as copper or silver alloys. Cast coins have poor pouch has been removed. When the etching fluid is
imitation. It can be easily detected. The surface is applied to this surface the disturbed or strain led
usually pitted and uneven. The edges of lettering and particles of the metal differ in the rate solubility makes
designs are rounded instead of sharp. it possible in many cases restore the umber to such
an extent that they can be read and photograph.

FORENSIC 3 (Group 5)
 CHAPTER 10 2. Colluvial soil – formed
from the decomposition of
SOIL (Petrography igneous, metamorphic and
As Applied To Crime sedimentary rocks, the
Detection) decomposed particles moved
Soil as evidence in by gravity. Soil in which some
murder, homicide, rape,
movement and intermingling of
robbery, kidnapping, hit
and run accident has parts has occurred would be expected to be less
been overlook by most variable.
investigators, probably
because it is such a
common place 3. Sedimentary soil – inactive, not migratory soil.
substance and is more or less taken for granted. Very
few persons have realized that the soil upon which COLLECTION AND SUBMISSION OF SOIL
they stand may have a different composition from the
soil a few yards away. Researches have shown that 1. Soil usually in form of mud is usually recovered
soil are greatly diversified and vary considerably over from shoes, slippers, clothes, tires, tools and
the surface of the earth not only from widely furniture.
separated points but also from points quite close
together. This expected because soil represent not 2. If found on the above soil should remain in place
only original earthly constituents derived from the and the whole submitted to the laboratory.
parent rock of the natural forces and the activities of
living organisms over millennia. 3. Should be wrapped in clean paper or filter paper
Soil varies rapidly with depth. The admixture and place in box.
of soil from below the surface with surface soil is
taking place constantly in excavating for pipes, paving 4. Known soil samples should be taken at different
and in agricultural operations. Surface variations may places around the point of reference
arise, therefore due to admixture with surface soil of
the same region. Additional for fertilizer and soil CONSTITUENTS OF SOIL
conditioning material and human, animal and plant
waste would cause further variations of local nature. The basic components of soil originates
In view of this variation in compositions of soil can primarily from mechanical and chemical
only be used as circumstantial evidence in the crimes decomposition of igneous, metamorphic and
of violence. sedimentary rocks. Rocks are almost infinite variable
There is the remote possibility that another in composition containing usually many different
soil from some part of the country would be identical, minerals.
although this has never been found to happen.

Petrography – is the branch of geology that deals a. Igneous rock -Produced by volcanic or intense
with the systematic classification and identification of heat.
rocks, rock forming materials and soils. Also includes
study of dust, dirt, safe insulation, ceramics and other
such materials both natural and artificial.

Soil means different things to different people.

As farmer plant crops in it. An engineer build with it.
A miner takes mineral from it . Criminalist regards soil
as the top layer of the earth. It may include any
substance on earth that may stick a person’s clothing
or shoes.

TYPES OF SOIL
b. Metamorphic rock – had undergone changed in
1. Alluvial soil – formed from soil structure, texture through pressure, heat and
particles that were washed, blown, or chemical reaction. Like limestone into marble.
moved by gravity to lowlands. Earth,
sand, gravel, etc. are deposited by
moving water and wind. Its particles
maybe derived from an almost infinite
number of sources, and since the
action of water and wind would in few cases be
identical over long periods of time in different spots,
great variation in composition would be expected.

FORENSIC 3 (Group 5)
 c. Sedimentary rock – or sandstone. Rocks formed 4. Dolomite – white mineral obtained from
by sediments. sedimentary rock. Similar to limestone.

5. Mica – a mineral that crystalline in thin, flexible

layers, resistant to heat
Constituents of Soil

1. Primary Minerals – includes undecomposed rock

fragments ranging from stone down through pebbles,
sand and silt.

Important Minerals

1. Quartz – a form of silica. Crystalline mineral

usually colorless and transparent. Also called quartz
sand. It originates primarily from igneous rock but
6. Other primary Minerals: gypsum, talc, kaolinite,
much of the soil quartz contributed directly by
metamorphic and sedimentary rock. A common limonite, magnetite.
mineral. An almost universal component of soil.

2. Clay Minerals – a product of decomposition of

primary minerals. Found nearly all soils and is the
major constituents of most heavy soil. It imparts to
2. Calcite (limestone – CaCO) – white reacts with soil cohesiveness and plasticity and becomes hard
the acid with evolution of carbon dioxide. Occurs and adherent on heating. Pure clay is considered by
widely particularly in Calcareous soil. criminologist to be hydrated aluminum silicate. The
color of clay soil varies from white through red ,
yellow, green, or blue depending on the nature of the
admixed impurities.

3. Feldspar (silicate of aluminum or sodium, or

barium, calcium, potassium) – their composition
give arise to clay along with more or less soluble salts 3. Organic Constituents – One of the most
of the metal named. variable of all soil constituents and is of peculiar
importance in the identification of soil. Agricultural
land is likely to be particularly rich 8n organic
Constituents both from growth occurring on the land
and from added materials such as manure, peat and
cover crops. Richest of all are the peat and muck soil
which have been formed primarily from the constant
decay of organic matter and contain only a small
amount of residual mineral deposited mostly by
flooding. Humus constituents are the most important
black coloring matter of soil. It alters texture markedly,
making clay soil less cohesive and sandy soil more
so.

FORENSIC 3 (Group 5)
 ANALYSIS OF SOIL DUST AND DIRT

The identification of soil I never necessary that Dust and dirt has been described as “matter in
all constituents be identified as such or that they be the wrong place”. The study of such piece of evidence
separated. Any method which quantitatively may often provide the investigator with clues as to the
distinguishes particles of characteristics appearance occupation of previous where about of a person under
of properties will be successful in proving identify or investigation.
nonidentity depending on whether the distribution
found in two soil are the same or different. There are Dust – matter which is dry and finely divided form.
several methods of petrographic analysis that are
being used in the laboratories to establish the identity Mud – dust mixed with water.
of two or more samples of soils.
There is no procedure which is especially Grime – (heavy dirt)- when dust is mixed with the
recommended. In the crime laboratory the use of sweat and grease of human body this formed.
DENSITY GRADIENT APPARATUS is utilized. A
simple procedure of determining the identity or non- COMPOSITION OF DUST
identity of soil samples based on the density
distribution. The procedure is rapid, requiring a few For purposes of criminal investigation dust
hours of completion. Consist of simple apparatus and may well, be classified from their source.
is indeed is sensitive to small changes in composition.
1. Dust deposited from the air – extremely fine dust
OTHER METHOD OF ANALYSIS FOR SOIL particles present in the air everywhere. More
abundant in thickly populated and industrial regions.
X-ray diffraction Settle very slowly and ultimately deposited on any
exposed surface. Its value in crime detection is
insignificant.

2. Road and footpath dust – produced by the wear

and tear of the road surface by vehicular and
Pedestrian traffic together with particles of soil carried
by wind or rain from adjoining region.

3. Industrial dust – industries like cement, button,

powdered gypsum and plaster of paris factories, flour
milling paint pigments, involves processes impart a
pronounce local character to the dust on the
Spectrographic analysis neighboring roads and buildings.

4. Occupational dust – some of the finely powdered

materials maybe found on the clothing and footwear
of employees engaged in such industries. Aside from
this for example, bricklayer will yield brick dust , sand
and lime on his clothes. Coal miner will have coal
dust on his clothes.

From the forensic chemical point of view the

identification of occupational dust is of great
importance. In Criminal investigation the identification
of the person through the articles of clothing left in the
Thermal Analysis scene of crime or in a vehicle may place him in an
identifiable class and thus serves to distinguish him
from the great majority of other persons. Such
observation does not serve to distinguish the wearer
of cloth from all other persons.

COLLECTION AND SUBMISSION OF DUST

AND DIRT

Dust and dirt present in clothing or objects that

can be readily transported should be left in situ. The
APPLICATION OF SOIL ANALYSIS TO whole article is packed in clean box with proper
SCIENTIFIC CRIME DETECTION protection and shipped to the laboratory. If the object
is immovable or too big to submit as a specimen like
The value of soil as evidence depends wholly sofa, piano, dresser, the specimen maybe removed
upon the fact that soil differ in various characteristics by the use of a vacuum cleaner with paper bags used
over the surface of the earth. This difference makes it in the dust sack to collect the dirt a vacuum cleaner is
possible to establish the identity where about of a not available the clothes maybe placed in a clean
person under investigation. paper bag and beaten to remove dust and dirt.

FORENSIC 3 (Group 5)
 ANALYSIS OF DUST AND DIRT

The identification of dust/dirt is usually made

for the purpose of determining the occupation of the
suspect or finding evidence that maybe similar or
identical with that found at the scene of crime.

Quantitative examination is rarely necessary

but qualitative test should be made for metals
present. If the sample is very small, microchemical
test or the spectrographic analysis maybe employed.
If the amount of specimen is sufficient the following is
employed.

1. Examine the sample under the ultraviolet light.

2. Treat a small quantity with a drop of water on a

spot plate.

a. Observe color of aqueous drop with

handlens

b. Note the proportion of the solid matter

which remains in suspension and proportion
which settles rapidly.

c. Reaction with litmus settle rapidly.

3. Treat a small quantity with a drop of 0.1 N

hydrochloric acid.

a. Note the evolution of gas

b. Note formation of precipitate

c. Note change in color

d. Note materials dissolved by acid

4. Treat a small quantity with ethanol.

a. Note color of alcohol drop

b. Note difference between the color of an

aqueous solution in procedure 2 and that in
color solution

c. Note other changes

FORENSIC 3 (Group 5)