NCJ Number
41287
Date Published
1975
Length
4 pages
Annotation
FINAL REPORT ON A TWO YEAR EVALUATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO EXPLORE THE USEFULNESS OF X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSES AS THEY RELATE TO CRIMINALISTICS.
Abstract
WORK SAMPLES WERE EVIDENCE MATERIALS SUBMITTED TO THE NORTHWEST MISSOURI REGIONAL CRIMINALISTICS LABORATORY IN ACTUAL CASES. THE MATERIALS EXAMINED INCLUDED AUTO AND HOUSE PAINT, GLASS, SAFE INSULATIONS, BUILDING MATERIAL, METAL FRAGMENTS, AND UNKNOWN CHEMICALS. THE RESULTS OF X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSES DEMONSTRATED THAT THIS METHOD OF ANALYSIS WILL YIELD RELATIVELY SENSITIVE, RAPID, AND PRECISE RESULTS AND THAT THE INSTRUMENT IS EASY TO MAINTAIN AND OPERATE. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSES ARE A VALUABLE INVESTIGATIVE TOOL, AND THAT FURTHER EFFORTS TO DEVELOP STATISTICAL COMPUTATIONS OF DISTRIBUTION FREQUENCY TO BACK UP RESULTS WOULD ENHANCE THEIR VALUE....EB