Mineralogical Analysis Applied to Forensics

Mariano Mercurio, PhD, is currently an assistant professor of Geoforensics at Sannio University, Italy. His research has started on the study and surface modification of georesources (mainly natural zeolites and clay minerals) applied to the industry and on the characterization of geomaterials of archeological and historical importance utilized in the built environment. From a forensic point of view, recently he took part to the collaborative exercise promoted by ENFSI APST working group. He has an excellent ability to work in the laboratory and an excellent knowledge of the most recent analytical techniques for geoforensic purposes. He is author of about eighty publications on peer-reviewed international journals and co-editor of two books.

Alessio Langella is a geologist and full professor of Mineralogy at Federico II University. He mainly developed his research activity on the characterization and application of natural and modified inorganic materials in environmental protection, and on the evaluation and preservation of geomaterials constituting the Cultural Heritage, taking advantage of a large set of technical instruments proper of mineralogy and petrology. Author of about one hundred and fifty papers published on international journals.

Rosa Maria Di Maggio has a MESc cum laude in Earth Science at University Sapienza of Rome. She has more than twenty years of experience in the field of forensic geology, ten of them spent at the Italian Forensic Science Police Department. She carried out several criminal cases with reference to analysis of soil and inorganic materials. Rosa Maria published numerous scientific papers and books on forensic geology and criminalistic. She is a member of IUGS Initiative on Forensic Geology as Officer for Europe.

Piergiulio Cappelletti, PhD, is Full Professor of Georesources at Federico II University, served as SIMP (Società Italiana di Mineralogia e Petrologia) President (2018-2019) and is currently Director of Centro Musei delle Scienze Naturali e Fisiche, FEDERICO II University. His research activity is devoted to industrial minerals and their occurrences and utilization, along with the characterization on modern and antique geomaterials (natural - building stones - and artificial -mortars and ceramics) used in Cultural Heritage. The results of his (and his team's) research are published on about one hundred papers on peer-reviewed journals.

This book illustrates the main modern mineralogical analytical procedures that can be applied for forensic purposes on various typologies of materials and substances and has both theoretical and practical approach. Moreover, it focuses on all those challenges that can arise with forensic analysis, such as the choice of the most proper mineralogical techniques as a function of the material and its quantity, destructive and non-destructive analyses, sampling procedures, mineralogical analysis of micro-traces, correct preparation of the samples, correct calibration and analytical conditions of the laboratory instrumentation. Numerous case studies on criminal offenses against persons, environment and cultural heritage are illustrated.

1. Optical microscopy applied to forensics.- 2. X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD.- 3. Scanning Electron Microscopy, Electron Microanalysis and automated SEM for forensic science.- 4. Infrared spectroscopy.- 5. Raman spectroscopy and forensic mineralogy.- 6. ICP-MS for forensic science.- 7. Simultaneous Thermal Analysis (STA): a powerful tool for forensic purposes.- 8. X-ray fluorescence.- 9. Isotopic analysis techniques applied in forensics. New frontiers of isotope geochemistry.- 10. Image analysis in forensic mineralogy.