FORENSIC COMPARISON OF JEWELLERY, SOIL, AND SAND SAMPLES USING ELEMENTAL PROFILING BY INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA MASS SPECTROMETRY (ICP-MS)

Elemental analysis of metallic materials is an important component of forensic investigations. Fragments of metals, alloys, ores, and metallurgical products may serve as physical evidence for establishing material provenance and identifying technological processes associated with their production. In the present study, the analytical capabilities of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were evaluated for the determination of major, minor, and trace elements in metallic and geological materials. Particular attention was given to sample preparation steps, including grinding, homogenization, and acid digestion, which are essential for obtaining reliable analytical results. Owing to its high sensitivity, low detection limits, and capability for simultaneous multi-element determination, ICP-MS represents an effective analytical tool for generating elemental profiles of metallic and geological materials. The primary objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of comparatively evaluating metallic and geological samples on the basis of ICP-MS-derived elemental profiles and differentiating them according to their compositional characteristics and potential sources of origin. The results demonstrate that ICP-MS is an effective analytical tool for the forensic comparison and characterization of metallic evidence, ore samples, and metallurgical materials.