Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Diagnostic Methodology for Microinclusions in Objects of Soil and Geological Origin: Validation and Practical Application

  • SUBSTANCES ANALYSIS
  • Published:
Inorganic Materials Aims and scope

Abstract

This paper presents a microinclusions diagnostic methodology in objects of soil and geological origin developed on the basis of the Atlas of Microinclusions in Soils (hereinafter Atlas). The validation procedure methodology and an example of practical application are provided. The contents and structure of the Atlas, which describes 37 types of microinclusions, are described. Microinclusions are diagnosed using the Atlas key that represents a set of sequentially identified diagnostic features (transparency, shape, color, luster, fracture, structure, density, magnetic properties, hardness, and brittleness) typical of different types of microinclusions. The identification of a microinclusion (red brick) performed using the Atlas key is provided as an example. The validation procedure involves experimental verification of the testing reliability and evaluation of the reproducibility of test results under different conditions: samples of different complexity are examined by different experts at different times using different stereo microscopes. Seventeen samples that were previously (2–8 years ago) tested and kept as reference samples in the laboratory collection of site-collected samples were examined. Some soil samples were identified within the real casework, while others were identified within the framework of the interlaboratory proficiency test under the auspices of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutions (ENFSI). Two experts independently examined the reference samples at different times. It was established that the composition of the complex of microinclusions in each of the studied samples matched (by their types and number) the composition of the corresponding reference sample. The experts performed 108 tests with no erroneous results. This indicates the reproducibility of the test results and the competence of the experts. At the end of the paper, an example of practical application of the methodology is presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.

REFERENCES

  1. Rozanov, B.G., Morfologiya pochv (Soil Morphology: Textbook for Higher School), Moscow: Akademichesky proekt, 2004.

  2. Gerasimova, M.I., Stroganova, M.N., Mozharova, N.V., and Prokof’eva, T.V., Antropogennye pochvy: Genezis, geografiya, rekul’tivatsiya (Anthropogenic Soils: Genesis, Geography, Reclamation), Smolensk: Oikumena, 2003.

  3. Prokofyeva, T.V., Martynenko, I.A., and Ivannikov, F.A., Classification of Moscow soils and parent materials and its possible inclusion in the classification system of Russian soils, Euras. Soil Sci., 2011, vol. 44, no. 5, pp. 561–571. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229311050127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Kazdym, A.A., Tekhnogennye otlozheniya drevnikh i sovremennykh urbanizirovannykh territorii (Technogenic Deposits of Ancient and Modern Urbanized Territories), Moscow: Nauka, 2006.

  5. Shishov, L.L., Tonkonogov, V.D., Lebedeva, I.I., and Gerasimova, M.I., Klassifikatsiya i diagnostika pochv Rossii (Classification and Diagnostics of Soils in Russia), Smolensk: Oikumena, 2004.

  6. Jin-Ling Yang and Gan-Lin Zhang, Formation, characteristics and ecoenvironmental implications of urban soils. A review, Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 2015, vol. 61, Suppl. 1, pp. 30–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/00380768.2015.1035622

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Sager, M., Urban soils and road dust civilization effects and metal pollution a review, Environments, 2020, vol. 7, no. 11, pp. 98–105. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments7110098

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Kazdym, A.A., Arkheologicheskaya mineralogiya (Archaeological Mineralogy), Moscow: Skorokhodov, 2010.

  9. Stoops, G., Marcelino, V., and Mees, F., Interpretation of Micromorphological Features of Soils and Regoliths, Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2014-0-01728-5

    Book  Google Scholar 

  10. Aleksandrovskii, A.L., Aleksandrovskaya, E.I., Dolgikh, A.V., et al., Soils and cultural layers of ancient cities in the south of European Russia, Euras. Soil Sci., 2015, vol. 48, no. 11, pp. 1171–1181. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229315110022

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Suleymanov, R.R., Kungurtsev, A.Ya., Protsenko, A.S., et al., Morphological properties of soils of archaeological monuments of Ufa city (Republic of Bashkortostan), Ekobiotekhnologiya, 2019, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 462–467. https://doi.org/10.31163/2618-964X-2019-2-4-462-467

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Semenova, N.V. and Tyurikova, V.V., On the study of solid foreign soil inclusions in the forensic soil science examination, Krimin. Issled. Ob’ektov Pochv, Biol. Proiskhozhd., 1990, no. 116, pp. 3–21.

  13. Omel’yanyuk, G.G., Alekseev, A.A., Voznyi, A.P., et al., Sudebno-meditsinskaya ekspertiza spetsificheskikh obrazovanii v ob’ektakh pochvennogo proiskhozhdeniya: Metodicheskie rekomendatsii (Forensic Investigation of Specific Formations in Objects of Soil Origin: Methodological Recommendations), Moscow: EKTs MVD Ross., 2000.

  14. Omel’yanyuk, G.G., Sudebno-pochvovedcheskaya ekspertiza (Forensic Soil Science Examination), Rossinskaya, E.R., Ed., Moscow: UNITI-DANA, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Gradusova, O.B., Peleneva, M.V., and Nesterina, E.M., Atlas mikrovklyuchenii v pochvakh (Atlas of Microinclusions in Soils), Moscow: FBU RFTsSE, 2014.

  16. Pochvovedenie. Chast’ 1. Pochva i pochvoobrazovanie (Soil Science. Part 1. Soil and Soil Formation), Kovda, V.A., and Rozanov, B.G., Eds., Moscow: Vysshaya Shkola, 1988, pp. 68–69.

    Google Scholar 

  17. PCAST, Report to the President. Forensic Science in Criminal Courts: Ensuring Scientific Validity of Feature-Comparison Methods. http://www.documentcloud.org/documents_3121011-Pcast-Forensic-Science-Report-Final.html. Accessed September 2016.

  18. Smirnova, S.A., Usov, A.I., Omel’yanyuk, G.G., et al., Practice of accreditation of forensic laboratories of the ministry of justice of Russia on compliance with ISO/MEK 17025, Teor. Prakt. Sud. Ekspert., 2011, no. 2 (22), pp. 40–56.

  19. Encyclopedic Dictionary of Forensic Theory. Part II, Smirnova, S.A., Ed., Moscow: Ekom, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Omel’yanyuk, G.G., Bebeshko, G.I., and Korol’, S.G., Methodological approaches for assessing the competence of forensic laboratories by interlaboratory proficiency testing, Ekspert, 2011, no. 4 (24), pp. 52–62.

  21. Gradusova, O. and Nesterina, E., The current status of forensic soil examination in the Russian Federation, in Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics, Ritz, K., Dawson, L., and Miller, D., Eds., Dordrecht: Springer, 2009, pp. 61–73. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9204-6_5

    Book  Google Scholar 

  22. Shukan, L.A., Sapun, V.P., Prokhorova, E.A., et al., Features of distribution and variation of solid anthropogenic inclusions in the soils of urban lawns, Vopr. Kriminol. Krimin. Sud. Ekspert., 2011, no. 2 (30), pp. 155–160.

  23. Di Maggio, R.M., Geological analysis of soil and anthropogenic material. Three case studies, in Soil in Criminal and Environmental Forensics, Proceedings of the Soil Forensics Special, 6th European Academy of Forensic Science Conference, The Hague, Kars, H. and van den Eijkel, L., Eds., Cham: Springer Int., 2016, pp. 25–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33115-7_3

  24. Gradusova, O. and Nesterina, E., Methodology of forensic soil examination in Russia and a view on the world standartization process, in Soil in Criminal and Environmental Forensics, Proceedings of the Soil Forensics Special, 6th European Academy of Forensic Science Conference, The Hague, Kars, H. and van den Eijkel, L., Eds., Cham: Springer Int., 2016, pp. 121–136. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33115-7_8

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Russian Federal Center for Forensic Expertise, Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, 109028, Moscow, Russia

    S. A. Smirnova, O. B. Gradusova, E. M. Nesterina, G. I. Bebeshko, G. G. Omel’yanyuk & I. P. Lyubetskaya

  2. RUDN University, 117198, Moscow, Russia

    S. A. Smirnova & G. G. Omel’yanyuk

  3. Bauman Moscow State Technical University, 105005, Moscow, Russia

    G. G. Omel’yanyuk

Authors
  1. S. A. Smirnova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. O. B. Gradusova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. M. Nesterina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. I. Bebeshko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. G. G. Omel’yanyuk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. I. P. Lyubetskaya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to G. I. Bebeshko or G. G. Omel’yanyuk.

Ethics declarations

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Translated by L. Emeliyanov

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Smirnova, S.A., Gradusova, O.B., Nesterina, E.M. et al. Diagnostic Methodology for Microinclusions in Objects of Soil and Geological Origin: Validation and Practical Application. Inorg Mater 58, 1484–1490 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0020168522140138

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0020168522140138

Keywords:

Search

Navigation