title: The retrieval of fingerprint friction ridge detail from elephant ivory using reduced-scale magnetic and non-magnetic powdering materials.
abstract: An evaluation of reduced-size particle powdering methods for the recovery of usable fingermark ridge detail from elephant ivory is presented herein for the first time as a practical and cost-effective tool in forensic analysis. Of two reduced-size powder material types tested, powders with particle sizes ≤ 40 μm offered better chances of recovering ridge detail from unpolished ivory in comparison to a conventional powder material. The quality of developed ridge detail of these powders was also assessed for comparison and automated search suitability. Powder materials and the enhanced ridge detail on ivory were analysed by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and interactions between their constituents and the ivory discussed. The effect of ageing on the quality of ridge detail recovered showed that the best quality was obtained within 1 week. However, some ridge detail could still be developed up to 28 days after deposition. Cyanoacrylate and fluorescently-labelled cyanoacrylate fuming of ridge detail on ivory was explored and was less effective than reduced-scale powdering in general. This research contributes to the understanding and potential application of smaller scale powdering materials for the development of ridge detail on hard, semi-porous biological material typically seized in wildlife-related crimes.
authors.affiliation: Analytical & Environmental Sciences Division, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Weston-Ford
authors.affiliation: Specialist Forensic Services, Evidence Recovery Unit, Metropolitan Police Service, 109 Lambeth Road, SE1 7LP London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Moseley
authors.affiliation: Specialist Forensic Services, Evidence Recovery Unit, Metropolitan Police Service, 109 Lambeth Road, SE1 7LP London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lisa J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Specialist Forensic Services, Evidence Recovery Unit, Metropolitan Police Service, 109 Lambeth Road, SE1 7LP London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nicholas P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.affiliation: Department of Security and Crime Science, University College London, 35 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9EZ, United Kingdom; UCL Centre for the Forensic Sciences, 35 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9EZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ruth M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Analytical & Environmental Sciences Division, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: leon.barron@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Leon P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Barron
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003415:Crime; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D004606:Elephants; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010316:Particle Size; D011208:Powders; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D014070:Tooth
chemical_list: D011208:Powders
keywords: Fingermark enhancement; Forensic science; Latent fingerprints; Wildlife