title: Inter-species variation in bone mineral behavior upon heating.
abstract: The characterization of inter-species variation in bone mineral (b-HAP) is of relevance to forensic science and archaeology, but has not previously been widely explored. Results of an investigation into unheated bone mineral and behavior of bone upon heating for 12 animal species (including human) demonstrate that b-HAP characteristics, quantitatively measured using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, exhibit significant inter-species variation. Human bone was found to be significantly different to all other species in terms of b-HAP lattice parameter values from unheated and heated bone and in terms of recrystallization behavior of b-HAP upon heating bone to 600°C. The amounts of b-HAP thermal decomposition products were also significantly different for human bone heated to 1400°C compared to those obtained for most other species. Therefore, there is potential for the development of an XRD-based method of species identification, particularly one that distinguishes human from non-human bone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering and Applied Science, Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University, Shrivenham, Wiltshire SN6 8LA, UK. s.beckett@cranfield.ac.uk
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beckett
authors.forename: Keith D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Clement
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry*; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D002417:Cattle; D002645:Chickens; D003670:Deer; D004285:Dogs; D017886:Durapatite / Q000032:analysis; D004606:Elephants; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D006041:Goats; D000882:Haplorhini; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008277:Magnesium Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D010087:Oxides / Q000032:analysis; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D012756:Sheep; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D017610:Calcium Compounds; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D010087:Oxides; C485828:alpha-tricalcium phosphate; C485817:beta-tricalcium phosphate; C485830:tetracalcium phosphate; D008277:Magnesium Oxide; D017886:Durapatite