Forensic Ballistics

GSR analysis

• GSR analysis by SEM-EDX is an acronym for analysis of traces of shooting on hands and garment performed by Scanning Electron Microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray detector. GSR is a standard method in European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI). Author of this website implemented the method in  forensic practice in Croatia during a period from 1998. to 2003.

1. GSR analysis of traces of shooting on garment is performed by measuring of concentration of three chemical elements characteristic for shooting (lead - Pb, antimony - Sb and barium - Ba) on a garment. Measuring of concentration of the elements is performed typically arround bulet hole and is in a range of cocentration from 0,001 ppm to 100 ppm. Measuring of so small concentrations is possible only with very sensitive analytical instrumental methods like flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) of inductively coupled plasma with atomic emision specroscopy (ICP - AES) or even inductively coupled plasma with mass specroscopy (ICP - MS).

•  
• GSR analysis by use of ICP - MS applied for measuring concentrations of Pb, Ba an Ba is aplicable for :
• - Bullet hole determination 
• - Distance of shooting estimation
• - Determination of entrance/exit hole of a bullet  for garment items
• - Direct hit versus hit after richochet assesment

back

home