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Article: Soils
- Article from:
- World of Forensic Science
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Soils
Soil on a suspect's shoe or splattered inside a car fender can provide forensic scientists with information about the travels of suspects and crime victims.
Soil is the product of biological, chemical, and physical alteration of materials at Earth's surface. Soils form in horizons, or layers, that are approximately parallel to the surface, have distinct properties, and are denoted by uppercase letters. The uppermost O horizon consists of decaying organic matter. It is underlain by the A horizon, or topsoil, which consists of a mixture of mineral and organic material. Beneath the A horizon is the B horizon, which consists of slightly altered mineral material, and the C horizon, ...