Quiz 13: Soil Examination

The uniqueness of soil composition has helped locate burial sites and link suspects to crime scenes.

An Austrian, Dr.Hans Gross, is believed to be one of the first forensic scientists to apply science to crime investigation.But Dr.Gross did not believe in the value of physical evidence, including soils found in the crime scene.

A German investigator, Georg Popp, is credited with being the first forensic scientist to use soil evidence to solve a crime.

Soil contains minerals, decaying organisms, water, and air, all in varying amounts.

Loam and peat are two subcategories of soil.

Soil with more than fifty percent decaying organic material is called peaty soil.

Soils form in horizons, or layers, that are more or less parallel to the earth's surface.

The E horizon of soil is also called topsoil.

Sand is formed by the action of: A)wind and water on rocks, called weathering. B)water on rocks. C)wind on rocks. D)None of these choices.

The size of sand grains can be anywhere from: A)0.05 mm to 10 mm in diameter. B)0.05 mm to 15 mm in diameter. C)0.05 mm to 20 mm in diameter. D)None of these choices.

Sand grains carried by water: A)become rounded more slowly than wind-blown sand because water acts as a buffer. B)become rounded more quickly than wind-blown sand because the water acts as a buffer. C)gain their jagged edges and become rounded more slowly than wind-blown sand because the water acts as a buffer. D)are larger than other sand grains because they retain water weight from the water that engulfs them.

Sand grains are classified as: A)immature, young, old, or mature. B)embryonic, young, old, or mature. C)immature, middle-aged, old, or mature. D)immature, young, old, or ancient.

Sand from different locations contains different combinations of minerals.The most common mineral found in sand is: A)mica. B)feldspar. C)quartz. D)an iron compound.

Continental sand is composed mostly of quartz, mica, feldspar, and dark-colored minerals like hornblende or magnetite.If a high percentage of quartz is present, it means the sand is: A)very old. B)very young. C)from a temperate climate or from a high altitude. D)from a polar climate.

Volcanic sand is usually dark in color due to the presence of: A)green basalt or green olivine. B)green basalt or black olivine. C)black basalt or green olivine. D)black basalt or black olivine.

Volcanic sand is very: A)old and contains little or no quartz, except for obsidian particles. B)young and contains little or no quartz, except for obsidian particles. C)old and contains little or no feldspar, except for obsidian particles. D)young and contains little or no feldspar, except for obsidian particles.

Distinct layers of soil are commonly labeled either O, A, E, B, C, or R.A term used to describe this sequence of layers is _______________________________.

Calcium carbonate will sometimes precipitate out of seawater, forming a coat of hard particles that resemble the layers of an onion.These layers eventually form small, round structures called _____________________________.

What term describes the organic material contained in soil which includes decaying plants and animals? ______________________________.

The materials that make up a type of soil determine that soil's chemical properties.An important chemical property of soil is whether it is acidic or _______________________________.

When a body is buried directly in the soil, both toxic chemical products of decomposition and nutrient-rich decomposition fluids seep out of the body into the soil.What term describes the area formed by these concentrated decomposition products? _________________________________.

​When is the best time of day to sight possible gravesites? A)​when the sun is low and shadows are easier to see B)​after a fresh rain or snow because the heat of the decaying body causes changes in how the moisture collects on the ground C)​after a wind storm because debris tends to collect in the area immediately surrounding the gravesite D)​All of these choices.

​What are the four primary sources of sand? A)​continental, volcanic, muddy, and rock B)​continental, compressed ash, feldspar, and mica C)​magnetite, skeletal, precipitate, and granite D)​precipitate, skeletal, volcanic, and continental

Oolitic sand can be found in various places including:​ A)​near Florida beaches. B)​near Georgia beaches. C)​near Great Salt Lake. D)​near Lake Michigan.