Abstract The aim of this paper is to provide a forensic geology standard operating procedure (SOP) for the collection of soil, for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and leachate associated with decomposing human remains in a shallow, unmarked, homicide grave. This assumes that human remains undergo partial or complete decomposition after burial and that the VOCs and leachate plumes generated subsequently migrate from the grave. These are expected to be influenced by several factors, including for example the cause of death, time elapsed since burial, climate and weather, topography, geological characteristics of the soils and bedrock, hydrogeology and taphonomy. This SOP has been used in a number of high-profile police and law enforcement searches (see for example Donnelly et al. 2020 . Analysis of soil following a police-led open area search and the recovery of a cold case homicide grave, Forensic Soil Science and Geology , 492 , https://doi.org/10.1144/SP492-2017-337 ). This approach remains experimental and further research and operational test work are recommended at known (recovered) homicide graves. This might become applicable as a future reconnaissance method applied to searches taking place over large areas to help reduce the preliminary search area where VOC and leachates are detectable.

Abstract Conceptual models of the fracture networks in shale were evaluated at a site contaminated with chlorinated solvents. Prior borehole testing in eight holes under open hole ambient and pumping conditions identified 14 flow zones (140 m bedrock interval) with zero to five zones per hole. Cross-hole testing showed only a few cross-connections between transmissive fractures. The initial conceptual model thus featured a sparse fracture network with few dominant fractures. Detailed profiles (hydraulic head, rock core volatile organic compounds, groundwater volatile organic compounds from packer and multi-level sampling, cross-hole multi-level monitoring of permanganate injections) were collected from several holes and indicated a well-connected fracture network with many hydraulically active fractures not influenced by open hole cross-connection. This contrasting conceptual model contained numerous well-connected horizontal and vertical fractures that allowed chlorinated solvents to penetrate the upper 50–60 m of bedrock as dense non-aqueous phase liquids, followed by diffusion-driven mass transfer from fractures into the porous rock matrix, such that nearly all the contaminant mass resided as dissolved and sorbed phases, measurable in rock core without cross-contamination during drilling. The difference in the two conceptual models has important implications for source zone and plume attenuation.

The oil-sand ores of northern Alberta provide a significant proportion of the overall energy portfolio for North America. Surprisingly, the presence of nano-sized clay minerals plays a defining role both in the extraction of bitumen and in tailings management. Although seemingly insignificant in size, naturally occurring clay minerals present in the oil sand ores of northern Alberta create significant challenges in all aspects of bitumen extraction and recovery, processing of oil sand ores, and management of tailings. Although a significant body of knowledge exists in relation to the characterization of ‘oil-sands clay minerals,’ much of this work has focused on the identification of the clay minerals present and not on their respective surface chemistries. This chapter focuses on some of the unique structural features of the clay minerals found in the oil sands and their respective surface chemistries.