Geobotanical Characterization of a River Beach for Forensic Purposes.

The combination of geology and botany in forensic research has increased in recent years and their use is of particular importance in the association of a victim and/or a suspect to a crime scene.

The Areínho beach, in Vila Nova de Gaia town (North of Portugal), is a beach in Douro River, the second more important river in Portugal, which although isolated is a very busy area due to the bathing season in the summer and to water sports during the other seasons. Moreover this is a complex area with different lithologies, considerable vegetation and also the transport of sediments along the course of the Douro River.

Aiming to characterize this beach, soil samples have been collected and analyzed by a combination of geoforensic techniques, namely color, particle size distribution, low-field magnetic susceptibility, mineralogy (optical microscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy) and pollen content. The surrounding vegetation has also been characterized and seasonal studies carried out. This research will be used in providing criminal intelligence for forensic investigations.