Forensic geologist Dr Duncan Pirrie explains how soil can be used to analyse particulate trace evidence used to link offenders to crime scenes and in the search for missing murder victims.

Find out more: southwales.ac.uk/research

Hello and welcome to Sixty Second Spotlight. I’m Associate Professor Duncan Pirrie, a geologist at the University of South Wales. My research focuses on how minerals help society.

Few people realise that geology can be used in the investigation of serious crimes like murder.  The make-up of any soil relates to the solid geology beneath our feet along with more recent processes. As a result, soils are distinctive and relate to specific places.

At a crime scene, traces of soil can stick to an offenders clothing or car. By analysing this soil we can test whether or not that soil came from the crime scene.  We can also turn the science around and use soils on for example a car, to identify the locations where it has been.

But the link between geology and crime goes further still.  We all rely on mined minerals in our phones, cars and computers. Mineral commodities have a high value and that attracts the attention of organised crime cartels.

Minerals produced from the ground and then concentrated can be stolen as they are transported around the world – this is big business – individual shipments might loose $1 million dollars in value.

Consequently, one of my current areas of research is looking at how to investigate, detect and then deter this type of criminal activity.