1.1 The purpose of this document is to recommend best practices for describing the color of forensic soil/geologic material determined by visual assessment and comparison to a reference color chart. This document encompasses the human visual characterization of soil color in the Munsell color system and provides criteria in forensic soil comparisons to exclude that soils came from the same source. Characterization of color of forensic soils by instrumental methods is not within the scope of this guide. Depending on case requirements, soil color can be used for: screening samples, soil comparisons, or to aid in geographic attribution.

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Rationale

This new standard was developed as a practice for forensic scientists performing soil examinations and color comparisons of soils. This is the first balloting of this standard at the subcommittee level.

The title and scope are in draft form and are under development within this ASTM Committee.