Forensic Soil Science and Geology
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Forensic soil science and geology provides information and operational support to assist the police and law enforcement with criminal and environmental investigations. These include: crime scene examination and the collection of soil and other materials; analysis and interpretation of this geological trace evidence; and searches associated with homicide graves, counter-terrorism and serious and organized crime. This volume provides new and sophisticated field and laboratory methods and operational casework.
The application of forensic geology to investigate the substitution of zinc ingots between China and Brazil
Correspondence: salvador.fass@dpf.gov.br
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Published:October 14, 2021
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CiteCitation
Fábio Augusto da Silva Salvador, Matheus Pereira Nogueira e Silva, Ricardo de Oliveira Mascarenhas, Anelize Manuela Bahniuk Rumbelsperger, 2021. "The application of forensic geology to investigate the substitution of zinc ingots between China and Brazil", Forensic Soil Science and Geology, R. W. Fitzpatrick, L. J. Donnelly
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Abstract
This paper presents the investigation of fraud and of the theft of metal acquired by a Brazilian company from a Chinese supplier. Zinc ingots were transported by ship from China to the city of Londrina, in Paraná State, Brazil. However, they were substituted at some point during their journey, and replaced with bags containing fine crushed rock. In this case of a classic ‘substitution’ it was possible to use geological methods to investigate the crushed rock. As such, the mineralogical, petrological and isotope analysis showed the replaced rock did not originate from a Brazilian provenance. Therefore, the substitution possibly occurred before the cargo's arrival in Brazil. An inadequate chain of custody of the cargo, during transportation from Asia to Brazil, including the onward journey from Paranaguá to Londrina, is likely to have provided the opportunity for the material exchange to take place. Collaboration between the Brazilian Federal Police and geological experts based in academia enabled the crime to be investigated and solved.
- Asia
- Brazil
- C-13/C-12
- carbon
- China
- Cnidaria
- EDS spectra
- electron microscopy data
- Far East
- forensic geology
- grain size
- human activity
- isotope ratios
- isotopes
- metal ores
- metals
- microfossils
- mineral economics
- mineral resources
- O-18/O-16
- oxygen
- Parana Brazil
- particles
- provenance
- SEM data
- size distribution
- South America
- spectra
- stable isotopes
- transportation
- X-ray diffraction data
- X-ray fluorescence spectra
- X-ray spectra
- zinc
- zinc ores
- Londrina Brazil
- zinc ingots