UNIT 3

Big Picture A

Big Picture in Focus: ULOa. Recognize principles in metallurgy and

petrography as applied to crime detection

Metalanguage
In this section, the most essential terms in connection to the concepts of metallurgy and
petrography will be defined:

 Metallurgy – the art of extracting and working in metals by the application of chemical and
physical knowledge.
 Metallography – the branch of metallurgy which involves the study of the microstructures of
metals and alloys.
 Petrography - is that branch of geology which deals with the systematic classification and
identification of rocks, rock forming minerals, and soils.

Essential Knowledge
To perform the aforesaid big picture (unit learning outcome) for the three (3) weeks of the
course, you need to fully understand the following essential knowledge that will be laid down in
the succeeding pages of discussion.

METALLURGY AS APPLIED TO CRIME DETECTION

Application of Metallurgy in Criminal Investigation

 Robbery (with force upon things) – where entrance is by breaking doors with the use of
metallic tools. Traces of these tools can be examined under a metallographic microscope.
 Hit and run cases
 Bomb and explosion
 Nail examination
 Counterfeit coins
 Restoration of serial numbers

Restoration of Serial Numbers: Principles Behind

When a number or any mark is stamped on metal, the crystalline structure of the metal in
the neighborhood of the stamp is disturbed. This disturbance penetrates to an appreciable
distance into the substance of the metal, but is not visible to the naked eye once the actual
indentations caused by the punch have been removed.
However, when etching fluids are applied to this surface, the disturbed or strained
particles of the metal differ in the rate of solubility than those of the undisturbed particles and this
difference in solubility makes it possible, in many cases, to restore the numbers to such an extent
that they can be read and photographed.
By the process of etching, it is found possible to render the original numbers visible.

1. Cast iron and cast steel – a 10% solution of sulfuric acid and potassium dichromate.
 UM BANSALAN COLLEGE
Criminology Department
R. Delos Cientos St., Poblacion Dos
Bansalan, Davao del Sur
(082) 2724080

2. Wrought iron and forged irons and steels

a. Solution 1: Hydrochloric acid, 80 cc; water, 60 cc., copper chloride, 12.9 gm, alcohol, 50 cc.
b. Solution 2: 15% nitric acid.
3. Aluminum – Glycerine, 30 cc., hydrofluric acid, 20 cc., nitric acid 10 cc. Due to the dangerous
nature of hydrofluoric acid, any experienced chemists should use the solution. This reagent gives
good results but almost as soon as it is applied, a copper deposit is formed.
4. Copper, brass, German silver, and other copper alloys – Ferric chloride 10 gm, hydrochloric
acid, 6 cc., and water, 100 cc.
5. Stainless Steel –Use dilute sulfuric acid or 10% hydrochloric acid in alcohol.
6. Lead (Motor car batteries, etc.) – Glacial acetic acid, 3 parts, hydrogen peroxide, 1 part.
7. Zinc – 10% sodium hydroxide solution. The ‘’retaining wall’’ method is recommended.
8. German silver – Ferric chloride syrupy solution, 25% concentrated hydrochloric acid, 25% and
water 50%.
9. Tin – 10% hydrochloric acid
10. Silver – Unconcentrated nitric acid solution.
11. Gold and platinum – Aqua regia
12. Wood – erased numbers and figures on wood can also be treated and excellent results have
been obtained by subjecting the suspected areas to a jet of stream.

PETROGRAPHY AS APPLIED TO CRIME DETECTION

Petrography is that branch of geology which deals with the systematic classification and
identification of rocks, rock forming minerals, and soils. This definition has been construed to
cover not only the study of soils and other mineral substances, but also dust and dirt, safe
insulations, ceramics, and other such materials, both natural and artificial.

Soil
Soil as evidence has been overlooked by most investigators probably because it is such a
commonplace substance is more or less taken for granted. Researchers have shown that soils
are greatly diversified and vary considerably over the surface of the earth, not only from widely
separated points but also from points quite close together.

Soil Formation
1. Alluvial Soil – its particles may be derived from almost infinite number of sources, and since
the action of water and wind would in a few cases be identical over long periods of time in
different spots, great variations in composition would be expected.
2. Colluvial Soil – soil in which some movement and intermingling of parts has occurred would
be expected to be less variable.
3. Sedentary Soil – least variable

Constituents of Soil
 Primary Minerals – undecomposed rock fragments ranging from stones down thru pebbles,
sand, and silt.
 Clay Minerals – may be found in nearly all soils and is the major constituent of most heavy
soils. It imparts to a soil cohesiveness and plasticity, and becomes hard and adherent on
heating.
 Organic Constituents – organic matter is one of the most variable of all soil constituents and is
of peculiar importance in the identification of soils.

Dust and Dirt

Dust and dirt has been described as “matter in the wrong place”.

Classification of Dust
1. Dust deposited from the air
2. Road and footpath dusts
3. Industrial Dusts
4. Occupational Dusts

Please note that you are not limited to exclusively refer to this module. Thus, you are
expected to utilize other books, research articles and other resources that are available in the
 UM BANSALAN COLLEGE
Criminology Department
R. Delos Cientos St., Poblacion Dos
Bansalan, Davao del Sur
(082) 2724080

university’s library e.g. ebrary, search.proquest.com etc. and other credible internet
sources.

Self-Help: You can also refer to the sources below to help you further understand
the lesson:
 Pye, K. (2007). Geological and Soil Evidence: Forensic Applications. CRC Press.
 Pirk, G. W (1940). Metallurgical Examinations in Criminal Cases. Retrieved from
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/230989191.pdf
 Backyard Ballistics (2019). REAL LIFE C.S.I. - Restoring Obliterated Serial Numbers.
Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld4hJmxP9Zk