title: Development of latent fingermarks from rocks and stones.
abstract: Since the beginning of recorded history, stones have been used in the commission of crimes due to their widespread availability. Stones can be used as a lethal weapon that sometimes might be the only evidence in a serious case. The common perception, even in professional fingermark circles, is that stones do not yield identifiable latent fingermarks. The authors of this research paper examined the feasibility of developing fingermarks from seven types of stones using three latent fingermark techniques: magnetic powder, cyanoacrylate fuming, and ninhydrin. The paper will demonstrate that by classifying stones and rocks according to their natural properties (porosity, permeability, and the nature of surface area), even application of the simplest development techniques can produce good results. In conclusion, chert and limestone yielded the most qualitative and quantitative results using magnetic powder. The time factor is also important in recovering latent fingermarks on stones and rocks.
authors: Fingerprint Identification Laboratory, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel Police, National Headquarters, Haim Bar-Lev Rd., Jerusalem, 91906, Israel.
authors: Ido
authors: I
authors: Hefetz
authors: Amit
authors: A
authors: Cohen
authors: Yaron
authors: Y
authors: Cohen
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Chaikovsky
keywords: cyanoacrylate; forensic science; latent fingerprints; ninhydrin; porosity; rock; stone