Forensic investigation of brick stones using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) and X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF)

Brick stones collected from different production facilities were studied for their elemental compositions under forensic aspects using laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS), instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF). The aim of these examinations was to assess the potential of these methods in forensic comparison analyses of brick stones. The accuracy of the analysis methods was evaluated using NIST standard reference materials (679, 98b and 97b). In order to compare the stones to each other, multivariate data analysis was used. The evaluation of the INAA results (based on the concentrations of V, Na, K, Sm, U, Sc, Fe, Co, Rb and Cs) using principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis is presented as an example. The results derived from the different analytical methods are consistent. It was shown that elemental analysis using the described methods is a valuable tool for forensic examinations of brick stones.