Forensic morphological and elemental analysis of gold jewellery: A case study

Shikha Tiwari 1, Dinesh K. Sahu 1, *, Vikrant Singh Thakur 1, Mohan Patel 2 and T. L. Chandra 1

1 State Forensic Science Laboratory, Raipur (C.G.), India.
2 Scene Of Crime, Durg (C.G.), India.
 
Research Article
International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 2023, 09(02), 516–519.
Article DOI: 10.30574/ijsra.2023.9.2.0608
Publication history: 
Received on 20 June 2023; revised on 29 July 2023; accepted on 01 August 2023
 
Abstract: 
In a cheating case, report was launched in the police station of Raipur city of Chhattisgarh state. In this case, a person was cheated in buying gold beads worth nearly 16 lakhs. As in forensic physics branch analysis and comparison of physical properties is done, case was registered in state forensic Science Laboratory, Raipur. The aim of this paper is to understand and apply basic principles of physics to solve unsettled cases and create awareness, whenever we purchase precious ornaments.
In this case, a garland consisting of large number of round golden beads was received for examination of gold content assuming it to be gold of lower purity. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) examination, Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) examination of these beads were done in the laboratory. The results were supervising that there was no Gold (Au) in all the golden beads of garland, it consisted of Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) in the ratio of Cu: Zn::2:1.
 
Keywords: 
Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDAX); Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM); Elemental Analysis; Gold (Au)
 
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