Practical Forensic Microscopy: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Edition – Wheeler

Laboratory Manual

,Contents

Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
Laboratory Safety xiii
Microscope Maintenance xv
The Micro Kit xvii
About the Companion Website xix


EXPERIMENTS 1

1 Stereomicroscope 3

Experiment 1A: Familiarization with the Stereomicroscope 5

2 Compound Light Microscope 13

Experiment 2A: Familiarization with the Compound Light Microscope 15

Experiment 2B: Measurements Using the Ocular Micrometer 23

Experiment 2C: Microscopic Mounting Techniques 29

Experiment 2D: Determining Refractive Index 35

3 Polarized Light Microscope 47

Experiment 3A: Familiarization with the Polarized Light Microscope 49

Experiment 3B: Determining Refractive Index of Anisotropic Materials 57

Experiment 3C: Determining Sign of Elongation and Birefringence 63

4 Fluorescence Microscope 69
Experiment 4A: Familiarization with the Fluorescence Microscope 71

5 Phase Contrast Microscope 77

Experiment 5A: Familiarization with the Phase Contrast Microscope 79

APPLICATION EXPERIMENTS 85

6 Experiment 6: Physical Match Examinations 87

7 Experiment 7: Construction Examinations of Evidence 93

v

,vi CONTENTS

8 Experiment 8: Lamp Filament Examinations 103

9 Experiment 9: Fingerprint Examination and Comparison 113

10 Experiment 10: Tool Mark Examinations 121

11 Experiment 11: Firearms Examinations 127

Experiment 11A: Gunshot Residue Examinations 135

12 Experiment 12: Shoe and Tire Impression Examinations 145

13 Experiment 13: Botanical Examinations 151

14 Experiment 14: Paint Examinations 159

15 Experiment 15: Cigarette Butt Examinations 165

16 Experiment 16: Document Examinations 173

17 Experiment 17: Hair Examinations 183

Experiment 17A: Animal Hair Examinations 195
Experiment 17B: Determination of Racial and Somatic Origin
Characteristics of Human Hair 205

Experiment 17C: Human Hair Examinations and Comparisons 213

Experiment 17D: Evaluation of Human Hair for DNA 223

18 Experiment 18: Feather Examinations 231
19 Experiment 19: Glass Breakage Determinations 239

Experiment 19A: Glass Examinations 247

20 Experiment 20: Fiber Examinations 257

Experiment 20A: Natural Fiber Examinations 265

Experiment 20B: Man-made Fiber Examinations 279

Experiment 20C: Fiber Comparisons 289

21 Experiment 21: Soil Examinations 295

Experiment 21A: Identification of Minerals in Soil 303

22 Experiment 22: Microchemical Testing – Inorganic Ions 317

23 Experiment 23: Building Material Examinations 329

24 Experiment 24: Explosive Residue Examinations 337

25 Experiment 25: Food Condiment Examinations 345

, CONTENTS vii

26 Experiment 26: Plastic Film Examinations 355

27 Experiment 27: Microscopic Examination of Controlled Substances 363

28 Experiment 28: Semen Examinations 377


APPLICATION EXPERIMENTS, INSTRUMENTAL MICROSCOPY 383

29 Experiment 29: Fourier Transform Infrared Microspectrometry
Examinations 385

30 Experiment 30: UV-Visible-NIR Microspectrophotometry Examinations 395

31 Experiment 31: Thermal Microscopy Examinations 405

32 Experiment 32: Scanning Electron Microscopy Examinations 413

33 Experiment 33: Case Study Scenario 423


APPENDICES 429

A Optical Properties of Natural Fibers 431

B Optical Properties of Man-made Fibers 433

C Michel-Lévy Chart 437

D Dispersion Staining Graph 439

E Circle Template 441
Glossary of Microscopy Terms 443
Index 453