STAFF REPORTS
BUFFALO — Elisa Bergslien, chair and associate professor of Earth
Sciences and Science Education, was completing her doctorate when a murder
occurred in a nearby community. The police asked one of Buffalo State University’s scientists if any information could be gained by analyzing a sample of dirt
found during the investigation. “Not really,” he answered. “It’s just dirt.”
When she heard the exchange, Bergslien was shocked—and
motivated. “I knew we can take a tiny amount of dirt and identify what minerals
and elemental materials are in it,” she said. “That’s when I began to think
about how to use forensic geology to solve crimes.”
motivated. “I knew we can take a tiny amount of dirt and identify what minerals
and elemental materials are in it,” she said. “That’s when I began to think
about how to use forensic geology to solve crimes.”
In 2012, Bergslien’s book, An Introduction to Forensic
Geoscience, was published. The text is in use not only in classrooms but also
in police labs around the world to help law enforcement officers solve crimes
ranging from fraud to genocide. She is also a member of the executive committee
of the Initiative on Forensic Geology, an international organization whose
purpose is to “develop forensic geology internationally and promote its
applications.”
Geoscience, was published. The text is in use not only in classrooms but also
in police labs around the world to help law enforcement officers solve crimes
ranging from fraud to genocide. She is also a member of the executive committee
of the Initiative on Forensic Geology, an international organization whose
purpose is to “develop forensic geology internationally and promote its
applications.”
Forensic geology uses the tools and materials of geology and
earth sciences in court cases. “There are two main branches,” said Bergslien.
“One searches for any evidence that might be buried, such as mass graves or
caches of weapons. The other analyzes trace evidence to identify geologic
materials, trying to determine if they could have come from the same source,
and where that source was.” Bergslien focuses on the latter.
earth sciences in court cases. “There are two main branches,” said Bergslien.
“One searches for any evidence that might be buried, such as mass graves or
caches of weapons. The other analyzes trace evidence to identify geologic
materials, trying to determine if they could have come from the same source,
and where that source was.” Bergslien focuses on the latter.
She explained that a bit of dirt taken from a suspect’s shoe
can be related to dirt found at a crime scene, or can be excluded as having
come from the same source. A sample of even a few particles can be analyzed to
reveal elements such as lead and arsenic as well as tell-tale minerals. In
Introduction to Forensic Geoscience, Bergslien recounts an 1872 hoax whose
perpetrators claimed to discover a lode of gems including diamonds, rubies,
sapphires, and emeralds. After investors sunk hundreds of thousands of dollars
into the “mine,” geologists identified it as a fraud because such minerals are
formed under different conditions and so would not be found together.
can be related to dirt found at a crime scene, or can be excluded as having
come from the same source. A sample of even a few particles can be analyzed to
reveal elements such as lead and arsenic as well as tell-tale minerals. In
Introduction to Forensic Geoscience, Bergslien recounts an 1872 hoax whose
perpetrators claimed to discover a lode of gems including diamonds, rubies,
sapphires, and emeralds. After investors sunk hundreds of thousands of dollars
into the “mine,” geologists identified it as a fraud because such minerals are
formed under different conditions and so would not be found together.
Bergslien is quick to point out that her work is rarely that
exciting. “It’s often tedious,” she said. “Usually, it’s a matter of analyzing
sample after sample to determine if they’re similar or different.”
exciting. “It’s often tedious,” she said. “Usually, it’s a matter of analyzing
sample after sample to determine if they’re similar or different.”
Much of her work focuses on developing protocols to be used
in forensic geology. She describes one such protocol in “Identification of
cremains using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and a comparison to trace element
analysis” published in Forensic Science International. The article argues that
X-ray diffraction spectroscopy is a superior method to determine if cremains
are, in fact, human cremated remains and not a filler material such as cement
or wood ash. “In a court of law,” said Bergslien, “the method of analysis must
be repeatable and well-supported if the evidence is to stand.”
in forensic geology. She describes one such protocol in “Identification of
cremains using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and a comparison to trace element
analysis” published in Forensic Science International. The article argues that
X-ray diffraction spectroscopy is a superior method to determine if cremains
are, in fact, human cremated remains and not a filler material such as cement
or wood ash. “In a court of law,” said Bergslien, “the method of analysis must
be repeatable and well-supported if the evidence is to stand.”
