Standard Practice for Use of Color in the Visual Examination and Forensic Comparison of Soil Samples

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Color is an easily observable characteristic of soils and is integral to the taxonomic classifications of soils (6-8); factors including parent material, hydrology, vegetation, and extent of soil weathering, can affect soil color, making color a valuable diagnostic tool for forensic examination purposes.  
4.2 Soil color is sufficiently variable among soils to be used for differentiation of many soils in forensic examinations (9, 10) (see Section 6 for the test method for color determination and comparison criteria) as determined by visual characterization in the Munsell color system.  
4.3 Instrumental techniques are suitable for color determination of soil evidence but are not covered within this practice.  
4.4 Color determinations of soil samples are also used within soil provenance assessments to provide investigative leads or aid in searches. Interpretation of soil color for soil provenance is case-specific and beyond the scope of this practice, but the methods of color determination (6.5.1 to 6.5.2) and documentation (6.7) described here should be applied to soil color within soil provenance cases.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers visual color determination of soil/geologic material within the context of a forensic examination and is intended for use by laboratory personnel.  
1.1.1 This practice recommends use of soil color for: the initial screening of soil samples in forensic casework, prioritization of known soil exemplars for detailed analysis, and includes a test method for color determination in the Munsell color system and comparison among samples.  
1.2 Units—Units in the Munsell color system are used throughout this document.  
1.3 This practice is intended for use by competent forensic science practitioners with the requisite formal education, discipline-specific training (see Practice E2917), and demonstrated proficiency to perform forensic casework.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

Status
Published
Publication Date
30-Apr-2023
Technical Committee
Drafting Committee
Current Stage
Ref Project

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This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E3254 − 23 An American National Standard
Standard Practice for
Use of Color in the Visual Examination and Forensic
1
Comparison of Soil Samples
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3254; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory
E2917 Practice for Forensic Science Practitioner Training,
1.1 This practice covers visual color determination of soil/
Continuing Education, and Professional Development
geologic material within the context of a forensic examination
Programs
and is intended for use by laboratory personnel.
E3272 Guide for Collection of Soils and Other Geological
1.1.1 This practice recommends use of soil color for: the
Evidence for Criminal Forensic Applications
initial screening of soil samples in forensic casework, prioriti-
zation of known soil exemplars for detailed analysis, and
3. Terminology
includes a test method for color determination in the Munsell
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
color system and comparison among samples.
3.1.1 aggregate(s) [clump(s)], n—a group of soil particles
1.2 Units—Units in the Munsell color system are used
that cohere to each other more strongly than to other surround-
throughout this document.
ing particles.
3
1.3 This practice is intended for use by competent forensic
(1)
science practitioners with the requisite formal education,
3.1.1.1 Discussion—Soil aggregates can be natural (a ped)
discipline-specific training (see Practice E2917), and demon-
or formed by human activities (a clod). Often the genesis of
strated proficiency to perform forensic casework.
evidentiary soil aggregates is unknown, so aggregate is often a
preferred term in descriptions of soil evidence.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.1.2 Discussion—This use of the term aggregate is dis-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
tinct from this term’s use in construction as the sand or crushed
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
rock mixed with cement to form mortar, grout, or concrete.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.1.2 color contrast, n—the degree of visual difference that
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
is evident between one soil color compared with another in
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
close proximity.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
(adapted from Ref (2)
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
3.1.2.1 Discussion—Within this practice, color contrast re-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
fers to color difference between evidentiary soil samples.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.1.3 color contrast classes, n—degree of color distinction
(color contrast) between colors within a soil are categorized as
2. Referenced Documents
faint, distinct and prominent.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
(2)
D1535 Practice for Specifying Color by the Munsell System
3.1.3.1 Discussion—Within this practice, these contrast
E620 Practice for Reporting Opinions of Scientific or Tech-
classes are used to describe the degree of color distinction
nical Experts
between two evidentiary soil samples, whereas the United
E1492 Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and
States Department of Agriculture – National Resource Conser-
vation Service – National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS)
uses these contrast classes to describe color distinction within
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E30 on Forensic
soil horizons. Faint color contrast is evident only on close
Sciences and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E30.01 on Criminalistics.
examination. Distinct color contrast is readily seen but con-
Current edition approved May 1, 2023. Published May 2023. DOI: 10.1520/
trasts only moderately with the color to which it is compared.
E3254-23.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
the ASTM website. this standard.
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